

|LIBIl7\IlY0F CONGRESS. : 

... ^opgrijlil |[o 


t 

I 

I ONITED STATES OP AMERICA. 


JT/.c 






• "I ''^^y-, •« • • ’.' • . 

V'- '<-.• ■ • 

^ f' , * ■ .'’V*'- • • - • * 

• • * . . * r 


I 


y ‘ ' 

• « 

- ^ 




•■’ a'’ 

> 1 • 


9 i 

/ 


I * 


t 




•N 


« *. 


^ » - A .' -S'.* 


V>« 




' > 






•» » 


' V* 









t* 


-• 




• r 




- ft 


w-': 


.' < ’• .* • 

* ^4* •*.» K* ' 4 


•*' j>-j i 

. - ^ <> \ 

<• ' • ^ r •> • 

*-• ; *:• * 


>•:• • • 


• r 




■ r> 

t •• 


. % S 


' ^ A 

k a > j- 



* ^ 


I 

’>! 


\ ' 


• 



t 










w« 


- V 


•v • 


.> 


^ - 




^ « 


i • 

• • N 


; ’:• 


V 0 


• 


.■5 5 


: >r. 't' k:'-- * - ;< > ■ -. '*:? 


.-'-i 


#1 ' - • • 

% >J- • 


- • 


• V 

t k 

> 


* . » 
» * V 








•• > 


. . ‘v. 


» -w 


t, 

- » .* 


t- 








- • V 


it •/ *, • 






• _/ 


‘".f ■ 

’ . . 




V. 


A 


i • , 

» « 


- 


H ' 


/M . • •’..■ '* -r- 


' :< 
:v 
S v- 

:>vr 


* K 

v;‘, 


'i': 



A 

% 


•. ♦ 




•r 



.1. 


•j.-i 


>. » 


4^■^ 




. • 


-;.r 


y > 


^ - 


% 

»!r 


>•* •• 


r, V 


iX . 


« 


'>l^> :5 ^* ■ 

-V ^ I 

- • - if* -. 7* 


• \ 








L 


4^ 


^ If -:- 

1. ..-• •: -y ' ;• • ' . 

^’-• • . 'f^ ♦ - . 


-• ¥ 


5 . 


^4 

4 


4\ 




t 


4 « 

« 4 


y 


V . 


v'.r* V \. 


r J . 



: -V 


• “y ■ 


r* ' • 

^ <<- 



P • 




ir-^**r r, V4V '-i^- . 


. ^ 
", 4 

. t - 


V. 

• 4 


I*. 


I % 


I . 


^ • k 


5 • 


k « 


.. r 


1 


A 

It 


%•% 






• t \ . 


•« _ 


•y 


• 4 

• V 


4 \ 


I iV ^ 




.•.* 

S 






.p 
« *• 


■ T.;- 


✓ % 


. r. • 


/v 


. /- 


: X*. 


♦ 0 




■'*' i.^ •• ' : . X • . • 




1 ; 

• to 0 




I i 


W 


\ k • 


# . 


♦ 7 


. » 






't 




- / 


i. 


•.A 

*• ' f‘ •• 

« . ^ 


• » 



\- 


# • 


a 

✓ 


>• V-^ 


^ t 
« 


f 


• • 


. ^ 


k • ' . 

V . 
% • 


-.i >► 


‘ \4 ^ . 

\ I »’.■> . 


•-♦V . 




• .'4*' 






- , 

•s 


k 


• • 




4 

• •* 

4 •• 


• 1 


' v". 


♦ . 

« ' 




.« 


^ r 




.» 


« • 






r'T'-h,;-. 


¥ 





- k II 


'1 ^ 


/ ' * 









4 f 



•J! 


• r4 I 


« « 

/ < 


: •% >.• 


» • 


•> 






i . 


K' 


• r . '.* ^ 


• * ♦ . * ^# w 


- > 


4 . . 

4 


N' 


■] k ^ i 

• • • * ▼ . 4 • ^ J I 


rm^ A A » ' . ■* 


< . 


i-7 


'>»/» 

•€ 



. ■• - 'K* 


4 ^ 


0 • 






X . 

' V *• 


• •.f 


* 4 


. V 


« k 





. ■ ^ f WBm 


-^rK^n 




Ju W 


•<w-\. 




tl 




^ BT* 


^ *■ 




V J 


• • 






<• « «i 








,■ i 


■ir 


■■'•'V'i 5 ’■'''''^' 

ft 


'Sa^ 


• 




',1’ 




rii 


IV. 






4 


, ■ i' AiT 


ifel ^ -■ ■v. .- • ’>^, , J,' -■-■ • . L:''-44£-ii2JS 


■ / T: 

li 


.>7 


5 


■•’If 


4 vr- - 

tk . 

7 V > 

* 1 . 

r<p^ " 


SI 






•y; ■ . 

- V '■? 


1^1 






»v 






« l‘- r .W^ \ 


r> 


.41 




■fi 






'W 


1 1 


I^i. .V 


-r, 








'id: 




X tP ^ 


j *. 


r. 


/ 




^ ^ ■• « ‘ 

' i *' •■ ifT. 

(i .; . ► ■. Mm.'t^. 


j-»' 


* ' ' i -4 








V" 

. ’‘*te 


•f 




- .* 



’ ^ 


% 


'$ 


V* 

«j* 


i t 




« ... 




■ ■'• . ' .* ij ., 1 ;^ ,. 

' > • ..^-V^- '’'ll A.S.V.'' ' 

ju “ niiS 


J' 


•'i 


/• 


t^ 








-Vr 


A'A. 


w 

iiiiilli<iHi' Tii“i I • 


y. 






*■-.> 


-k » 


i« 


/I ';ew 


^*'^1 




r 


• * 




I 

. • 


L I ^ #, 


1 . 


% ' 

• -i 

■\ •. 






• U 



r,. 

* t 


.'•■i 


-• • i 

. k 





/- 


Vi. 


V r 


:t 


. IV 





< 


,» 

>■ i 


t, 


I 


I 




• / 



4 


I 

i 


" \ 


«. 


» 


' . 

- •p i 


t ^ 

« 

. 1 


. i ■ ' 

• . • ' 



» * • 


* • i' ’ ' 

9 


I 


a' * 




“‘Call me Home, Mother.” — Page 4G. 



CHERRY, THE SI^fHER. 


A STORY FOR YOUNG AND OLD, ' 



AUTHOR OF “aDELE,” “eRIC,” “HERBERT,” “ NETTIe’s TRIAL, 

“johnston’s farm,” “ennisfellen,” 

ETC., ETC. 




> > 

> > 9 

BOSTON; 

PUBLISHED BY EDWARD A. SAMUELS, 

125 Tremont Street. 

1876 . 



r2 7 

.s n4- 

cJL 


Copyright 

By EDWARD A. SAMUELS, 

1875 . 



0 


9 

■VO 


Electrotyped at the Boston Stereotype Foundry, 
19 Spring Lane. 


DEDICATED 


TO 


FATHER AND MOTHER. 



PREFACE. 



y Of making many books there is no end.” 
What shall be said of this one? 

The story is simple and touching : it is founded 
on fact, and the author has tried to tell it simply 
and naturally. 

Cherry is a real child, who may appear before 
the public in a few years, and give them an oppor- 
tunity to judge of her rare, sweet voice. 

With the history of Jamie, everybody is familiar 
in the name of Charley Ross. May tliat poor, 
little wanderer be returned to the aching hearts 
that mourn him, as happily as was our little hero, 
Jamie. 

The lessons we have striven to convey are, that 
we should resist temptation, bravely and boldly, 
and that under all circumstances it is our duty to 
do that which we know to be right. 

“ For right is right : since God is God ; 

And right the day must win.” 





« 




w ^ * 

% 





4 





1 - 


•<» ? 


L * 


-1 


:r - 

I 



• • 




>*• 


4 < 


r fm * 


- • f i' 




; \ 


K 




• » 


»-U? 










jX- 




* ■ 


- 


.. 1' 



j ^ f 




I 




'( « 



♦ 

» 

I 

% 



■^. T 

*•• • '. 



4 




■a 


» 







% ♦ 

■« 


* 


I 

* 


t 





» 




% 



\ f 


- *'w. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTEU PAGE 

I. Happy Cherry 9 

II. Where is the Child? 15 

III. Cherry is Stolen. 20 

IV. The Saddened Home 26 

V. Cherry finds a Little Friend 30 

VI. Little Jamie’s History 37 

VII. Singing in the Streets 44 

VIII. A Great Disappointment 51 

IX. An Engagement 64 

X. “ Harm’s ” Promises 73 

XI. A Glimpse of Muff 81 

XII. Good News 86 

XIII. Muff Stolen 91 

XIV. The Discovery 99 

XV. Home and Happiness 110 


7 


I 



•• 


I 




V 


f 






' .“r 






|i’. 




‘ 4 ^- 


t 


• ’* ■ 


c 


t 


« 


k 


W* 



» 

4 


^ 


r 

A 

/ 


4 


/ 


\ 





• > 

• * 




X 


» 






k • • 





t 






V 


CHERRY, THE SIHGER. 


CHAPTER I. 


HAPPY CHERRY. 


NE fair June day, little Cherry Halstead 
was playing in her father’s garden, and 
the thrushes and finches were singing to 
her their sweetest songs. 


The cottage looked like a bower of roses ; the 
hardy climbers were peeping in at the windows, 
and reaching out to the eaves, and safe within their 
shelter, breathing their delicious perfume, the little 
patient mother sparrows sat, guarding their delicate 
eggs, in snug little nests. All the birds loved 
Cherry, because she was a little singer, like them- 
selves. 

But Cherry was not singing on that bright, sunny 
afternoon. She was playing very quietly, and her 
thoughts were busy with a sad subject. 

9 


10 


CHERRY, THE SINGER. 


“ How sorry mamma looked, this morning, when 
papa said he would ‘ drive down to Rice’s ! ’ I 
wish he wouldn’t go there again, dt makes mamma 
feel so badly. I mean to tell him so,” thought 
Cherry. 

Just then she heard her father’s voice calling her. 

“ Cherry, my pet, w’'ant to go to ride? ” 

“ Yes, papa,” she answered, scrambling up, and 
running to meet him. “ Muff I Muff! Come, 
Muff! ” 

Muff was Cherry’s little dog, — a soft, white ball 
of wool, wdth bright, black eyes, and dancing feet ; 
he came flying down the garden walk after her, up- 
setting himself and nearly upsetting Cherry, in his 
eagerness to run before her and to bark. 

Mrs. Halstead was standing at the cottage door, 
with baby Robbie in her arms. She laughed at 
Muff’s capers, as Cherry came towards her. 

“ Come here, dear, and let me straighten your 
hat,” she said to Cherry, and then she kissed the 
little girl, and whispered, “ You must love papa. 
Cherry.” 

She could not tell what impulse prompted her to 
say those words. They seemed to escape her lips 
without her will, — a sort of forebodins:. 

“ I do love him,” Cherry answered, with her 
arms about her mother’s neck ; “ and I love you too, 


HAPPY CHERRY. 


11 


mamma, and dear little Robbie.” And giving each 
a hug and a kiss, she danced otF to meet her father. 
Muff stopped to lap the baby’s little fat cheeks, and 
then scampered after her. 

“ You’ve kept Comet waiting, and you know he 
won’t stand,” said Mr. Halstead, flinging away his 
cigar. “ Whoa, Comet ! Come, Cherry, jump in.” 

Cherry said Muff must be put in first, and her 
father laughingly complied. 

“ You’re a little tyrant. Cherry, and Muff is an- 
other,” he said, as he tumbled the little dog into the 
buggy. As they drove off. Cherry turned to throw 
a kiss to her mother. 

Mrs. Halstead still stood in the doorway. The 
baby was dancing and crowing in her arms. She 
gave Cherry an answering smile ; but the little girl 
thought she saw a touch of sadness in the smile, 
and was thus reminded of her own thoughts. 

“ Papa,” said she, suddenly, “ which way are we 
going ? ” 

“ Round by Rice’s tavern,” answered Mr. Hal- 
stead. “Why?” 

“ That was why mamma looked so sad,” said 
Cherry, musingly. “ She always does look sad 
when you go to Rice’s, papa. What makes you go 
there ? ” 

Mr. Halstead did not answer directly. His face 


12 


CHERRY, THE SINGER. 


flushed, and he turned from his little daughter, evi- 
dently disturbed by her question. 

“ Why did he go there? Was it worth while to 
make his gentle wife suffer so much anxiety, and to 
learn to shrink from his child’s innocent eyes? Was 
it right for him to waste his time and his talents 
with the friends he met there? Was it well for him 
to unman himself, as he had twice done lately?” 

These questions, with others, flashed through his 
mind, and his better nature answered them. “ It 
was neither right nor well ; and for the sake of his 
family, if not for his own, he would put a stop 
to it.” 

Cherry,” said he, turning to the child, who 
feared she had offended him, “ mamma need not 
‘ feel sad ’ any more. After to-day I will not go to 
Rice’s.” 

“ 0, papa. I’m so glad ! ” That was all that 
Cherry could say ; but her bright smile, the glad 
light in her blue eyes, and the way in which she 
hugged little Muff, were very expressive. 

It was a noble resolve on Mr. Halstead’s part to 
turn from temptation ; but it would have been far 
better for him if he had only said “ now, at once,” 
instead of “ after to-day.” 

When we are brought to acknowledge that a thing 
is wrong, the only safe course is to forsake the evil 


HAPPY CHERRY. 


13 


at once, and keep out of the way of its temptations ; 
for while we hesitate it may overcome us. 

Cherry, however, was satisfied. Her father had 
j^iven his word. That was enough for her ; and 
wlien he drew rein, and Comet came to a stand at 
the tavern door, she smiled brightly in his face, as 
he lifted her to the sidewalk. 

“You can take Muff wdth you, and run and play 
in the garden until I come out,” he said. 

“ Yes, papa, it is such a nice garden ! You must 
give me one kiss, papa, I am so happy.” 

He stooped to kiss the sweet red lips upraised to 
his. 

“ What a happy little “child you are. Cherry ! 
Now run and have a good time, dear.” 

He stood looking after the little girl, as she 
tripped towards a honeysuckle arbor, trilling a 
merry song. 

“ I will keep my promise,” he said softly to him- 
self. “ Tills is my last visit here. With such a 
home as mine, and blessed with such a household, 
surely I may withstand temptation.” 

The soft June air blew into his face the sweet 
breath of fragrant flowers. A little purple finch sat 
upon a rose tree near by, swinging with the breeze 
and singing joyously. Beyond, by the door of the 


14 


CHERRY, THE SINGER. 


arbor, Cherry stood, turning back, and throwing 
liim a kiss, with a pretty little gesture of delight. 
Then she went into the arbor, and he turned towards 
the hotel. This was the picture which in after 
years he could never forget. 


WHERE IS THE CHILD? 


15 


CHAPTER II. 



WHERE IS THE CHILD? 

WONDER why papa doesn’t come, Rob- 
bie,” Mrs. Halstead said, softly, to her 
little boy, as slie lighted the evening lamp 
and drew the white shades. 

The room was cozy and bright. The piano stood 
open, with music on the rack ; choice pictures hung 
upon the walls, and a glass dish, filled with roses 
and geranium leaves, stood upon the centre-table, 
among the books. 


She looked around, as she turned back to the 
rocking-chair to resume her work, and thought, with 
a smile, it was a pleasant home to which Cherry and 
papa would return. 

Robbie lay in his wicker-basket, looking at the 
light, and cooing forth his satisfaction. Presently 
his mother turned from her work, listened a min- 
ute, and then gave him a briglit smile. 

“ There they come, darling. That is Comet’s 
step, and tired enough my little Cherry must be.” 


16 


CHERRY, THE SINGER, 


Yes, it was surely Comet. He had gone around 
to the stable. Cherry would come directly in. No 
— she was waiting for papa. But presently her 
husband came up to the door with lingering steps. 
His white face terrified her. 

“ What is it, Robert? ” she cried, going over to 
him; “what is the matter?’’ Then, with quick 
alarm, “ Is Cherry hurt? ” 

“ Amy,” he answered, pitifully, taking her trem- 
bling hand in his, “ do not despise me, Amy. I 
have been Aveak and faithless again. I have been 
drinking at Rice’s ; and O, my poor, little Avife, 
how can I tell it to you? I have lost our little 
Cherry.” 

“ Lo&i her, Robert ! ” gasped poor Mrs. Halstead. 

“ Yes,” he answered, sadly. “ I took her to 
Rice’s, and left her playing in the garden there, 
while I went in. I did not mean to be gone a min- 
ute ; but I Avas — an hour or more. Once I heard 
Mutf barking, and — O, Amy! Amy I when I came 
out she Avas gone. We could not find her.” 

He bowed his head upon his hands. His anguish 
Avas too deep for tears. O, the suffering and the 
shame I It Avas all his fault ; his alone ! While 
he was basely betraying his Avord to his little 
daughter, and making himself unfit to protect her, 
she most needed his protection. He felt that his 


WHERE IS THE CHILD F 


17 


wife had a right to despise him. He despised him- 
self. 

Mrs. Halstead saw how he suffered. She deeply 
pitied him. 

“ Robert,” she said, softly kissing his damp fore- 
head, “ do not blame yourself too much, dear ; and 
do not give up to grief. It is our duty now to find 
our darling. What have you done ? ” 

“ Everything. Searched the town, called upon 
the police, and telegraphed in every direction. 
There isn’t a clew.” 

“ There must be,” said Mrs. Halstead. “ Cherry 
is five years old. She knows her name, and our 
names, and the name of the town we live in. She 
will surely remember these ; and we must find her. 
But O, my little, delicate darling ! What can she 
do, alone in the wide, wide world ! O, who could 
have been so cruel and wicked as to bring this 
great sorrow upon us?” 

“ Who, indeed ? ” said Mr. Halstead, raising his 
head. “ I know I have not been the man I ought 
to have been, but I have not an enemy in the world 
to ray knowledge. It could not have been for gain. 
We are not rich enough for that. Amy, dear, it 
must be poor consolation to you now, but it may 
be some — I will never again in my life touch a 
2 


18 


CHERRT, THE SINGER. 


drop of wine, or any other intoxicating drink. May 
God help me to keep this promise inviolate ! ” 

• “ Amen ! ” said Mrs. Halstead, solemnly, with 
bowed head. “Your promise is a great comfort to 
me, Robert. I feel that Cherry will surely come 
back. We will put our trust in the Lord; He 
knows where our darling is. He will lead his little 
lamb. But we must do our part, too, Robert. You 
are faint and tired ; let me give you some tea. I 
will send Mary for Mrs. Swan to come and sit with 
Robbie, and then we will drive to the town, and see 
if anything has been heard.” 

To please his wife, Mr. Halstead compelled him- 
self to swallow a little food. 

Their neighbor came in, full of quiet sympathy, 
and took charge of Robbie. Mrs. Halstead begged 
her to sit with the door open, and the window cur- 
tains up, and to keep a bright light. 

“ For the dear child may wander home alone,” 
said she. “ She may be here before we get back.” 

Mrs. Swan promised to do so. She said she 
hoped Cherry would appear ; but in her heart she 
feared that the child had fallen into the river, which 
swept the grassy border of the tavern garden. 

In the town Mr. Halstead learned that a strange 

O 

woman had been seen in the garden in the after- 
noon, but had not been seen since Cherry’s disap- 


WHERE IS THE CHILD P 


19 


pearaace. Some people thought that this woman 
had kidnapped little Cherry, while others thought 
that she must have fallen into the river ; but the 
police said, from the fact of the dog’s disappearance 
too, that the child had been stolen, and that the dog 
was wdth her. They were working in every direc- 
tion. The people, meanwhile, were searching the 
woods, and makiug arrangements for dragging the 
river. * 

There was nothing for the unhappy parents to do 
but to return home. Their darling might be there 
to w'elcome them : but no, she was not there. 

They could see from the driveway, in the bright 
glow of the lamp, Mrs. Swan quietly hushing Rob- 
bie in her lap, while Mary stood at the window, 
shading her eyes from the light, and looking up and 
down the road. 


20 


CHERRT, THE SINGER. 


CHAPTER III. 



CHERRY IS STOLEN. 


r HE first thing Cherry did when left alone in 
Rice’s garden, was to carol a sweet little 


song. 


Then she turned laughingly to her 


companion. 

“ Now, Muff,” said she, “ before we play in the 
garden I’m going to make you do all the pretty 
tricks you know. Come into this arbor and sit up, 
sir.” 

But Muff, instead of “ sitting up,” flew in through 
the door, barking frantically. 

“Why, what’s the matter?” cried Cherry, has- 
tening after him. “ What is it, Muff? ” 

Then she spied, in one corner of the arbor, slowly 
uncurling herself from a bench, a rough-looking, 
ragged woman. Something in her appearance 
made Cherry start for the door again. She glanced 
around, and saw her father just going into the hotel. 
She thought of running after him, when Muff gave 


CHERRT IS STOLEN. 


21 


a cry of pain, and Cherry turned again and darted 
to his side. 

The woman was now sitting up on the bench, and 
she held Muff fast in her lap. The little dog 
looked appealingly to his little mistress, and then 
turned and gi’owled fiercely at the stranger. 

“ Please put him down,” said Cherry. “ He is 
a good little dog.” 

“ O, I know that, dearie, if he did bark and 
growl* at me,” said the woman, laughing a very un- 
pleasant laugh. 

“ I’ll not let him do so any more,” said Cherry, 
“ if you’ll please put him down.” 

“ Does he know any pretty tricks, dearie? ” asked 
the woman, still holding the unwilling little pris- 
oner. 

“ O, yes, lots,” said Cherry, brightly. “ Let him 
get down, and I’ll show you what he can do.” 

And Cherry actually lifted him off the woman’s 
knees, who reluctantly let him go. 

“ Now be quiet. Muff,” said Cherry. “ Be 
quiet, sir ! Sit up.” 

Muff was accustomed to obey this order 
promptly, but now he demurred, making a series 
of runs at the stranger, growling and barking. The 
little dog knew instinctively that she was not to be 
trusted. 


22 


CHERRY, THE SINGER. 


But Cherry was a maiden of her word. She 
made Muff be quiet, and then again she bade him 
to sit up ; and seeing how resolute his little mistress 
was, Muff sat up very prettily, waving his fore 
paws in the air. 

“ Now, one, two, three,” said Cherry ; and at the 
word three, the little creature rose on his hind legs, 
and walked on two feet all around the summer- 
house. 

“ Lie down ! ” said Cherry, and the dog obeyed. 
“ Be dead ! ” she ordered, and all the little limbs 
were stretched rigidly out, and the bright little 
eyes were closed, but the tail kept up an expectant, 
wary motion. 

“ Come ! ” said Cherry ; and at that signal the lit- 
tle dog sprang into her arms. 

Having performed her promise. Cherry now 
wislied to leave the arbor, but the stranger pre- 
vented her. 

“Don’t leave me,” said she. “ I won’t hurt you, 
dearie. I wouldn’t harm you for anything. You 
have a very sweet voice. I heard you sing just 
now. What is your name, dearie?” 

“ Cherry Halstead.” 

“ Cherry. That is a sweet name, isn’t it? and do 
you live close by here ? ” 


CHBRRT IS STOLEN. 



“ O, DO,” answered Cherry ; “ I live three miles 
from here.” 

“ O, do you? And how came you here, dearie?” 

‘‘I came with my papa,” answered Cherry. 
“ He is in the hotel,” she added, edging off towards 
the door. Something in the woman’s looks and 
words warning her away. 

The stranger put out her hand to detain the child, 
and turning her head, appeared to be listening for 
some sound which she wished to hear. In another 
minute she bent over Cherry, saying, in a very 
coaxing voice, — 

“ How would you like to have me give you a 
cunning little black puppy? ” 

“ Why,” said Cherry, eagerly, “ have you got 
one?” 

“ Yes,” answered the woman, “ I have got two ; 
a little black one and a little white one, curly, like 
Muff. Come with me and see them. You shall 
have whichever one you want. Come ; they are 
right down here.” And before Cherry had time 
to hesitate she was hurried across the garden, still 
tightly holding little Muff, and down to the river 
bank. 

A small boat was drawn up to the bank, 
screened from view by the bushes, and in it sat a 
boy. His frightened expression changed to one of 


24 


CHERRT, THE SINGER. 


surprise when lie saw the woman appear with 
Clierry. A heap of rubbish lay in the bottom of the 
bolt. The woman pointed to them. 

“ They are there in that rubbish,” she said, and 
lifted Cherry into the boat. 

Muff growled and barked again,*' but nobody 
minded him. Cherry, though feeling a little afraid 
and uneasy, began at once to look for the puppies. 
In a few minutes she had searched the rubbish 
through, and .failed to find them. 

“ They are not here,” she said, looking towards 
the woman. Then suddenly the poor child started 
and turned very pale. The woman was rowing as 
fast as she could row ; the hotel garden was far 
behind. 

“ O,” cried Cherry, “ don’t take me away ! 
don’t take me away ! O, please, tivke me back to 
papa ! ” 

“ Be quiet,” said the woman sternly, and glanced 
around to see if the child’s cries had been heard. 
“ I’ll take you back in a few minutes, if you will be 
good. Sit down in the boat and keep quiet. If you 
cry out again I’ll throw you into the water. I’ll 
take you back if you’ll keep still.” 

Cherry obeyed. She had no confidence now in 
the woman’s promise, but she was afraid. She sat 
forlornly on the rubbish heap, hugging Muff, and 


CHERRY IS STOLEN. 


25 


crying silently. The little dog lapped her wet 
clieeks and tried to comfort her by his sympathy. 

The boy looked at tlie poor child with as much 
pity as he dared to show, for he too was evidently 
afraid of the woman. 

They were fast leaving the town. The twilight 
was beginning to darken, and Cherry grew more 
and more anxious. “ Where could this terrible 
stranger be taking her? Would she never see her 
dear father and mother again? Would Robbie 
grow up without knowing his little sister? Could 
she never, never go home?” 

The woman sat sternly silent, rowing still, as 
unyielding as fate, moving the boat onward and 
onward. By and by lights twinkled here and 
there in the distance. It was night, and happy 
children were ih their homes ; but the boat on the 
river moved swiftly away with its forlorn, unwilling 
passenger, until it was lost in the darkness. 


26 


CHERRT, THE SINGER. 


CHAPTER IV. 



THE SADDENED HOME. 

ID the birds know that Cherry was missing? 
So it seemed to Mrs. Halstead. They did 
not sing as they used to sing when her 
darling played in the garden. The roses, too, were 
faded, and the little sparrows had left their nests. 
The Avhole world seemed dark to her now, for 
Cherry, bright, loving, happy child, was gone. 

How the poor mother’s heart ached for her lost 
darling ! How she had hoped against hope, day after 
day, week after week, and no news came ! Every- 
thing had been done that could be done, experi- 
enced officers were yet on the watch, and a large 
reward was offered for the recovery of the child. 
Many people believed that she was drowned. But 
her father and mother did not think so, and the 
police also were sure that she Avas stolen. Still it 
was strange that they could find no clew to her dis- 
appearance, for Cherry had been gone three months^ 


THE SADDENED HOME. 


27 


Robbie was toddling about, and beginning to talk. 
Plow his little sister would have enjoyed aiding his 
unsteady feet, and how she would have laughed over 
him and petted him at each new word he learned to 
lisp ! Little did Robbie know of what he had lost ! 
He was a merry, happy fellow, full of fun and 
frolic, and he could not understand grief. With 
him, his father and mother had to put aside their 
anxiety ; and in this he was a great comfort to them 
both. 

Mr. Plalstead had changed greatly since Cherry’s 
disappearance. He was saddened, and had grown 
grave and thoughtful. There had been a great tem- 
perance revival in the town, and his name was first 
on the rolls of a prominent society, some of the 
leading members of which were urging him to 
become their lecturer, and to travel about, giving 
free lectures on temperance, the expenses of which 
would be paid by the society. 

He was a fluent speaker, and his heart was in the 
cause. He wished to accept the proposition, for it 
seemed to him that there would be a chance, in his 
travels from place to place, of finding Cherry. He 
only hesitated on account of leaving his wife. Mrs. 
Halstead would not go away from home. “ The 
child,” she thought, “ might come back at any time, 
and she must find her home and her mother, poor 


28 


CHERRY, THE SINGER. 


little wauderer ! ” So she and Robbie would stay 
at the cottage ; but she was anxious that Mr. Hal- 
stead should travel and give the lectures, hoping 
that his mind inrght be diverted from his sad loss. 

While they were yet uncertain what to decide, 
Mrs. Halstead’s brother wrote, offeriug to come and 
stay with her ; and as she w^as thus provided with a 
protector, Mr. Halstead accepted the offer of the 
temperance board. 

He travelled from place to place always well 
received, and always successful ; constantly think- 
ing of his little daughter, and ever on the lookout 
for her. His sorrow gave an earnestness and depth 
to his character, which carried conviction to the 
hearts of his hearers. Many husbands and fathers 
turned from drunkenness to virtue ; sons were 
restored to manhood, and wives and mothers blessed 
his name. 

Wherever he went Mr. Halstead found his w^ay 
among tlie poorer classes ; his words of advice were 
followed by Avords and deeds of kindness, helping 
on those who Avere trying to do right ; Avhile he 
could sympathize Avith and pity all Avho Avere in the 
Avrong. All loved and honored him. He kneAV 
that he Avas doing good. 

o o 

He Avrote home to his Avife cheering letters of the 
blessing of God upon his mission ; and he told her 


THE SADDENED HOME. 


20 


of his faith and hope, which seemed to • grow 
stronger with time, that one day he would find his 
little daughter. " 

Mrs. Halstead was thankful for the change in 
her husband, grateful for the good he was permitted 
to do, aud as hopeful as he about Cherry, of whom 
she never thought as dead. 

Aud so things went ou, and Robbie grew into a 
fine little lad, denying his babyhood. The roses 
budded again, the birds sang aud built their nests. 
Still, there was no news of the little wanderer to 
cheer the brave hearts who hoped on against hope. 

People talked of the case as strange and singu- 
lar. It was an old story now — a year old. 

Who could tell what the year had done for 
Cherry, friendless and alone ! 

Ah ! not friendless. Cherry was a lamb of God, 
in his tender care. Her father, far away in the 
west, aud her mother in her New England home, 
prayed every night and morn that God would bless 
and keep their darling, and bring her safe to them. 


30 


CHERRT, THE SINGER. 


CHAPTER V. 

CHERRY FINDS A LITTLE FRIEND. 

» IE, get up ! Why don’t you start when 
call you ? ” 

Cherry sat up in bed quickly ; she 
pushed her pretty curls from her face, and opened 
her blue eyes with a startled look. Where was 
she? Who was speaking so roughly to her ? 
This was not her little crib, with its dainty linen. 
This was a great yellow bed, with a patchwork 
quilt and coarse, soiled sheets. Her mother’s lov- 
ing face was gone, and in its place there were 
the stern, cruel eyes of the dreadful woman. O, 
yes, she remembered now ; and closing her eyes 
with a weary sigh, while the tear-drops stole down 
her cheeks, little Cherry slid to the floor, and looked 
for her clothes. 

“ Put on those things in the chair,” said the 
woman. 

Cherry obeyed. They were not the dainty little 


CHERRY FINDS A LITTLE FRIEND. 31 


clotlies her mother had dressed her in. Tliey were 
coarse and ragged. But Cherry did not care much. 
She was too miserable. She silently dressed herself 
as well as she could, making sad work with the 
buttons and button-holes. 

“ Don’t you stir from this room,” said the 
woman, turning to her. “ I’m going down stairs ; 
and if you don’t mind me, I will catch you and beat 
you. Do you hear that?” 

“ Yes’m,” said little Cherry, meekly, with quiv- 
ering lips, while the woman threw a shawl over her 
head, and took up a basket. 

“ Then see to it that you mind me,” she added, 
shaking a finger at the frightened child, as she left 
the room ; and the child breathed more freely. 

Presently Cherry heard a familiar whining and 
scratching at the door; it opened, and Muff darted 
in, and in an instant was in her arms, lapping the 
little tear-stained face, and comforting the poor 
little aching heart. 

The boy who had been in the boat was standing 
in the doorway, looking at the pair with eyes full 
of deep pity. 

Presently he came up to Cherry. Marm’ has 
gone,” said he, kindly. “ She w^on’t be here for half 
an hour. Let me help you, little girl. I’m very 
sorry for you.” 


32 


CHERR T, THE SINGER. 


“What made her take me away?” sobbed the 
child. 

“ 1 don’t know,” said the boy. She stole you — 
didn’t she? She stole me, too, a long time ago. I 
mean to get away from her, though, some day. 
I’ll get you away, too, and take you home.” 

“ O, will you? ” cried poor Cherry. “ When will 
you ? ” 

“Just as soon as I can. Just as soon as I find a 
chance. But don’t you tell. Don’t you breathe 
a word of it ; for if ‘ Marm ’ finds it out she will 
whip us.” 

“ No, I’ll never tell,” said Cherry, trembling. 
“ I love you ; you are a good boy if you will take 
me home to mamma and papa.” 

“I will,” he said: “and don’t you cry aryl fret. 
Try to bear it now. It makes her mad to see you 
cry. Be a good girl, and don’t cry. She will treat 
you better.” 

Cherry stifled her sobs, and wiped her little wet 
cheeks with her hands. Her new friend kissed her, 
and then fastened the buttons which troubled her so 
much, and washed her face and hands, and combed 
her hair with a bit of comb. Then he led her to a 
chair, gave her some bread and milk in a bowl, and 
Cherry fed herself and MutF. 

After she had eaten all she could, the boy took 


CHERR r FINDS A LITTLE FRIEND. 33 


a violin from a shelf on the wall and played. 
Cherry looked on and smiled, then she actually 
laughed, and presently began singing the same 
time, in her sweet, clear voice, while her little feet 
swayed back and forth, and both hands waved to 
the rhythm of the music. Muff looked on in good- 
natured approval, and wagged his tail for the first 
time since his capture. 

Meantime “ Harm ” had returned. She stood 
in the doorway, herself unnoticed, an observer of 
the scene within. A smile of satisfaction was on 
her face. She waited until the tune was played 
through, and then spoke to Cherry in a kinder tone 
than she had yet used. 

“ You can sing well, cliild.” 

“ Yes’m,” said Cherry, shyly, the smile dying 
away, and a frightened look taking its place. 

“ You needn’t fear me,” said the woman, more 
softly. “ If you mind me, and don’t try to get 
away, or talk to folks. I’ll be kind enough to you. 
But if ever I catch you speaking to a living soul 
but me or Jamie, I’ll roast you alive.” 

This terrible threat turned Cherry white. She 
looked appealingly to Jamie, and saw that he too 
was afraid of this dreadful woman. Muff sprang 
into Cherry’s lap, laid his head on his fore paws, 
and growled. 


3 


34 


CHERRY, THE SINGER. 


“ I’m not going to hurt you, unless you drive me 
to it,” said the woman, more kindly ; “ and you’ll 
have no harder work to do than singing to Jamie’s 
fiddle, and showing off your little dog’s tricks ; so 
clear your brow, and be^ ready to learn the songs I 
will teach you. Do you know any yourself besides 
the one you sang in the garden ? ” 

Cherry nodded. She was thinking, just then, of 
a little hymn her mamma had taught her. It 
seemed to her like a voice from home now, and she 
began to sing it softly. 

“Jesus says that we must love him, 

Helpless as the lambs are we ; 

But he very kindly tells us 
That our Shepherd he will be. 

“ Heavenly Father, please to watch us ; 

Guard us both by night and day ; 

Pity show to little children. 

Who, like lambs, too often stray. 

“We are always prone to wander ; 

Please to keep us from each snare ; 

Teach our infant hearts to praise thee 
For thy kindness and thy care.” 

She sang the first verse alone, but before she 
was half through with the second Jamie had caught 


CHERRT FINDS A LITTLE FRIEND. 35 


the air, aud played it upon his violin, listening with 
delight to the words. 

“ I used to know that,” said he, smiling to Cherry ; 
“ it was in my ‘ Songs for Little Ones.’ Sing it 
again, Cherr3^” 

She sang it again, and Jamie joined in the words 
and played the air. What a comfort was the music 
to these two poor children. Playing and singing, 
they thought no more of their sorrow while the 
music lasted. The woman had not meant a hymn 
when she asked Cherry to sing. Something, how- 
ever, kept her from stopping the child, and she 
stood and listened. What power was in that sim- 
ple little hymn ! She turned her head from the 
children, and a tear-drop fell upon her hand. She, 
too, had once known it, and her memory went back 
to her childhood’s home, showing her to herself an 
innocent child, standing at her mother’s knee, learn- 
ing the simple words. . It was only for a moment, 
however. She crushed the memory in her heart, 
and turning, said to the children, “ That will do 
now ; put up the fiddle, Jamie, afid wash up those 
things. I’m going to pack up.” 

“ Are we going away from here ?” asked Jamie, 
moving to obey her, and looking round in surprise. 

“We are that,” said she. “ We’re going to 
Boston.” 


36 


CHERRT, THE SINGER. 


The children looked at each other in dismay. 
Already they began to rely on one another. 

Cherry’s eyes filled, but a warning look from 
Jamie made her control her tears. 

It did not take long to “ pack,” for there was not 
much in the room. Cherry held MuflT tight in her 
arms, and Jamie grasped his darling violin. Two 
ragged straw hats were given to the children. The 
woman carried her own bundle, and they started 
for the wharf, where they took a boat for Boston. 


LITTLE J AMIENS HISTORT. 


37 


CHAPTER VI. 

* LITTLE JAMIE’S HISTORY. 

MIE,” said Cherry, stealing to his side, 
ind putting her little hand into one of 
lis ; Jamie, do you know the name of 
this town we are leaving ? ” 

“ Yes, it’s Portland.” 

“ I thought so. I’ve been to Portland with papa. 
Y'ou must remember, Jamie, that we came from 
Portland, so we can find the way — ” 

Sh ! ” Jamie exclaimed, pressing her little 
fingers. Don’t talk of it. Cherry. We’ll remem- 
ber. I’m dreadfully afraid Marm ’ll hear you,” he 
added, whispering. “ She watches us all the time.” 
■- Just’then an officer of the deck came along, and 
spoke kindly to the forlorn little ones. 

Well, little folks, do you like the water? ” 

‘ “ Y^es, sir,” answered Jamie, and both children 
raised their eyes to his. Theirs were so full of 
trouble that the kind-hearted man was touched. 


38 


CHERRY, THE SINGER. 


and sat down beside them. He intended to ques- 
tion them, but “ Marm ” was too watchful to allow 
that. 

“ Come, children,” said she, approaching them, 
“ I’m going to give you something nice.” She was 
speaking so sweetly that she hardly knew her own 
voice. 

“Are those your children, ma’am?” asked the 
officer, rising. 

Yes, indeed, sir ; they are my own.” 

“ They don’t look just like you, that’s a fact,” 
said the officer. “ I don’t half believe her,” he 
muttered to himself, as she pulled the children 
away. “ What sad, sad eyes they had. I half 
believe they are stolen. I’ll find out about it if I 
can get a chance to talk with them.” He turned 
to his work, but the memory of their mute appeal 
haunted him. “ What ever,” he thought, “ but 
some great sorrow could bring such utter sadness 
to a child’s eyes?” 

“ Marm ” dragged them away out of his sight, and 
then, instead of “ something nice,” gave them both 
a severe box on the ear, and bade them keep close 
beside her, and not to speak to anybody. She took 
great care that the good-natured officer had no 
chance to get any information from them. 

They comforted and consoled one another as best 


LITTLE JAMIE'S HIS TORT. 


39 


they could. Cherry trembled and sobbed, and 
Jamie’s eyes flashed upon “ Marm ” in indignant 
wrath. For what she could do to him he did not 
care much, but bore it silently. He could not bear, 
however, to see little Cherry hurt. 

“ Stop crying, now,” she said, threateningly. 
“ I’m going to take you to the cabin if you don’t 
stop at once.” 

Cherry did not dare to cry. She stifled down 
her sobs, and presently began to enjoy looking out, 
with Jamie, upon the pleasant scene around them. 

Stately vessels were moving out to sea with all 
sails set. Others were coming in laden with freight. 
A steamer went pnfling by. Little boats and'yachts 
were here and there, some flying by with merry 
parties of pleasure, and others lazily rocking on the 
waves. Overhead the sky w’as blue and clear, and 
the water around the steamer was of the same 
color, save where the paddles sent up flashes of 
silver foam. Off in the west, the horizon was all 
ablaze with crimson and golden light, which seemed 
to be melting into the water. The fresh breeze 
came up from the sea, and blew in their faces. A 
gull flew overhead, with a mournful cry. Cherry 
nestled up to Jamie, and thrust her little hand, 
wet with tears, into his. 

“ That is God’s home,” she whispered to him, 


40 


CHERRT, THE SINGER. 


pointing to the beautiful western sky. “ Perhaps 
he sees us now. We must ask him to take care of 
us, Jamie.” • 

“ Let’s ask him now,” Jamie whispered back. 
Then the two little things bowed their faces in their 
hands, and sent up from their hearts a cliildish 
prayer, full of faith, and trust, and love. 

Slowly the brilliant scene faded ; twilight settled 
down, and the stars came out one by one. Cher- 
ry’s head leaned upon Jamie’s shoulder. She was 
fast asleep ; a happy smile played round her mouth. 
She was dreaming of home. Muff lay watchful at 
her feet. Jamie sat quietly, gazing off over the 
water. His heart was full. It was more than a 
year since he had been taken from his home. He 
had kissed his mamma, and gone out to play on the 
sidewalk. A buggy had driven up, with a man and 
this woman “ Marm ” sitting in it. They asked 
him if he wouldn’t like a ride. He wanted to to 

O 

ride, and said he would “ run and ask mamma.” 
But they would not wait for this. The man told 
him to jump in, and the woman said his mother 
would not care. So they coaxed him into the car- 
riage and then drove away, and he never saw his 
dear mamma again. He heard, from their conv-er- 
sation, that they expected his father to buy him 
back for a large sum of money. But day after day 


LITTLE JAMIE'S HISTORT. 


41 


went by, and nothing came of it but trouble and 
worry, for the man and woman were always quar- 
relling about it. Then, one day, he remembered 
walking out with her, and seeing a picture of him- 
self on a handbill posted up on the wall. He saw 
the word Reward ! and tried to read the bill ; but 
“ Marm” hurried him home, and the next day they 
travelled away — far away. 

The man left them, and Jamie had not seen him 
since. He had heard that the man was dead. 
“ Mann ” never let him talk about his home. He 
was determined to get away from her, and find his 
Avay back. Every night and morning he repeated 
the little prayer his mother had taught him, wdth a 
very homesick, sober little face ; but he never gave 
up the idea of getting home, and now that he had 
Cherry too to help, he would try to find her home 
first. 

Jamie was a very manly little fellow. His fami- 
ly were rich ; at home he had beautiful toys and 
charming books, and all things that are generally 
provided for loved and petted children. Of these, 
however, he seldom thought. It was for his moth- 
er’s love he yearned, and for his father’s kind voice 
and smile. He was a tender, sympathetic child, full 
of music. Music had always been a keen source 
of delight to him. His parents were very proud of 


42 


CHEER r, THE SINGER. 


his talent for music, and had been to a great deal 
of expense in having him taught the violin. Of 
course so young a child could not be a wonderful 
player, and Jamie could do nothing extraordinary 
or difficult ; but he could catch an air very quickly, 
and play it with expression. It happened that 
when he was taken away he had his violin with 
him, and that was of as much comfort to him as 
little Muff was to Cherry. 

By and by “ Marm ’’ carried them off to the 
cabin. Cherry scarce wakened when put into her 
berth. Muff nestled close to her ; Jamie was near, 
and soon sound asleep. “ Marm ” made herself 
comfortable on two chairs, and slept beside them. 
She would not risk the chance of having them 
spoken to again. 

The next morning she woke the children early, 
and told them to follow her. She took them ashore 
when she saw that the officer who had noticed them 
was busily engaged. The children were very hun- 
gry, but she told them they would get nothing to 
eat till she had found lodgings. 

This it w^as not easy to do in the reputable part 
of the city where they happened to be, for “ Marm ” 
was not at all prepossessing ; but finally the plead- 
ing eyes of the two children induced a poor widow 
woman to take* them in. She had two good rooms 


LITTLE JAMIE'S HISTORY. 


43 


to let — a kitchen and bed room. These, though 
poorly furnished, were neat and clean, — a great 
improvement on all former lodging-rooms that Ja- 
mie could remember. 

“Marm” bought some milk of the landlady, and 
gave the children each a bowl of it, with some 
fresh bread. Cherry shared hers with Muff. She 
was hungry, but still too homesick to have much 
heart for anything. After breakfast “ Marm ” gave 
Jamie two songs, and told him to teach them to 
Cherry while she went out, locking the door and 
taking the key with her. 

They w^ere much happier wdien she was gone. 
Cherry brightened into something of her old self, 
and quickly learned her task, and another song 
that Jamie knew. He played the airs on his vio- 
lin, and they sang the songs together. 


44 


CHERRY, THE SINGER. 


chaptp:r VII. 

SINGING IN THE STREETS. 

iN Marm returned she had with her a 
indie, which she opened upon the table. 

L it were some second-hand clothes, noth- 
ing like Cherry’s pretty garments of home- make, 
but vastly better than the rags they had on. 

There was a dress for Cherry, rather long, coarse 
shoes and stockings. A red handkerchief, like the 
one Marm wore pinned about her throat, and a 
coarse straw hat. 

For Jamie, there was a pair of pants reaching 
just below his knees. A jacket, several sizes too 
large, and a hat like Cherry’s. 

Thus attired, she ushered the two children to the 
street, leaving Muff sobbing and whining alone at 
home. 

“We are going to sing and play to the people,” 
whispered Jamie. 



SINGING IN THE STREETS. 


45 


“ O ! ” said Cherry, shrinking back, “ must 
we?” 

“ Yes,” ansAvered Jamie, quickly ; “ but don’t be 
afraid. Nobody Avill notice us. We’ll sing up 
loud, and people will pay us money.” 

“ But I cau’t. I am afraid,” said little Cherry. 

Marm was ahead of them, looking for a good 
place for them to stand. Jamie saw this, and 
whispered eagerly, — 

“ Cherry, dear, we must do it, and we must try 
our best, for when we try to get away from her 
we’ll have to earn money this way for ourselves.” 

“ She won’t let us take Muff out,” said Cherry 
Avith a sob. “ I Avon’t go Avithout Muff.” 

“ No,” said Jamie, “ Ave’ll take Muff and the 
violin.” 

# 

Just then Marm turned, and saw Cherry with the 
tears in her eyes. 

“ Are you fretting for the dog? ” she asked. 

“Yes ’m,” ansAvered Jamie. 

“ You’ve no need to,” said she. “ I’m going to 
let you teach l»im some neAv tricks, and take him 
along soon as he knoAvs ’m.” 

“ That makes it all right. Cherry,” said Jamie ; 
and the little girl Avent on Avitli better heart. • 

Presently Marm turned into Washington Street, 
with its busy throng of people hurrying by. She 


46 


CHERRT, THE SINGER. 


placed the children before a store and told them to 
begin. 

Jamie tuned his violin and began the air, and 
then both children, with their rare, sweet voices 
began to sing. 

No wonder people paused and listened. Music 
like theirs is seldom heard in the streets. They 
sang their three songs again and again. A shower 
of pennies fell into Jamie’s hat when he passed it 
round at Harm’s order. 

They moved off, and took up a new position 
before a music store. 

Here they sang for some time. A number of 
people were in the store looking over new pieces 
and buying music. As the voices of the singers 
floated in, many of them paused to listen. Among 
them was one young* man, a composer of popular 
songs. 

Little Cherry’s sweet, plaintive voice went straight 
to his heart. He walked to the door of the store, 
and stood looking at the child with her pale, sad 
face and pleading voice. 

Cherry w^as singing one of his own songs ; it was 
one of those which Jamie had lately taught her, — 
“ Call me home. Mother ; ” and though far beyond 
her years, the child felt that it expressed the long- 
ing of her own heart, and sang it “ with a tear in 


SINGING IN THE STREETS. 


47 


her voice,” as an eminent German composer after- 
wards said of her. 

“ Call me Home, Mother. 

“ I had a dream of home last night, 

And mother, dear, of thee. 

I heard thy same sweet song again. 

That so oft was sung to me. 

I felt thy kiss upon my brow ; 

So lifelike did it seem. 

That waking, I was sick at heart, 

To find ’twas but a dream. 

“ Call me home mother, call me home ; 

Send but a word for me. 

My heart is breaking with the longing 
To return to thee. 

“I never knew how much thy love 
Did shield me night and day ; 

I never learned to prize it right. 

Until ’twas cast away. 

O ! could it but return again — 

I know it cannot be — 

Alas I I can but sigh and weep 
For home, and love, and thee. 

“Call me home, mother, call me home, 

Send but a word for me ; 

My heart is breaking with the longing 
To return to tliee.” 


48 


CHERRT, THE SINGER. 


As the musician listened, he longed to take the 
little thing in his arms and comfort her. Jamie, 
too, made a great impression upon him ; the true, 
sweet tone which the rapt little fellow drew from 
his violin was wonderful for a child of his age. 

Tlie song ceased, and the musician became sud- 
denly aware that many others beside himself had 
been interested in the song. At some one’s request 
one of the clerks asked the singers to repeat it. 
Mann bade Jamie take his hat and collect their 
pennies first. 

This part of their business Jamie detested. He 
could forget his wrongs and be happy while his 
violin sang to him ; but the begging for pennies was 
a severe trial to his pride, and he always passed 
around the raoro^ed little hat with a face scarlet 
with shame. 

Marm had none of the little lad’s delicacy. Her 
hard face relaxed as she saw the yield of pennies in 
Jamie’s hat, and she became greatly encouraged 
with her enterprise. The song was repeated again 
and again with success, and Jamie’s wounded pride 
was soothed by Cherry’s happy smile ; for when the 
child understood that it was her singing which so 
pleased the people, a glad thrill shot through her 
sore little heart, first with a natural delight in her 
new-found power, and then with a sudden con- 


SINGING IN THE STREETS. 


49 


scionsness that she and Jamie could help them- 
selves in this same way, if they were only free from 
Marm. 

Poor children ! Their success made her more kind 
to them, but also more watchful. She forbade them 
to speak, even to each other, except in a lingo of 
broken English, pretending that they were foreign- 
ers. If people spoke to them, she answered for 
them ; and she never permitted them to go out 
without her. 

When night came the children were so tired they 
could scarcely drag their weary feet toward home. 

Little Muff had moped and pined for Cherry all 
day, and had not touched the food Marm had left 
out for him. He was wild with delight on Cherry’s 
return. He leaped around her, yelping with joy, 
and eagerly kissed the little hot face that bent 
above him. 

Cherry was so tired that she sat down on the 
floor, and taking the little dog in her arms hugged 
and kissed him, sharing with him the bowl of bread 
and milk which Jamie brought her. She fell asleep 
trying to say her prayers, and never waked up 
wiien Marm undressed her and put her to bed. 
Then Muff cuddled close to her side, aod she slept 
soundly until morning. 

Jamie crawled into his little bunk in the corner, 

4 


50 


CHERRT, THE SINGER. 


but tired as lie was he kept awake, while Mann 
counted the mouey they had received, and was 
astonished to learn that it amounted to five dollars. 

“ Pretty well,” he thought, “ for one day ! ” 
Then folding his little hands together he prayed for 
his dear ones at home, and asked help of the good 
Lord for himself and little sorrowing Cherry. Soon 
he too was asleep, and angels were watching the 
slumbers of these two gentle children, and whisper- 
ing in their ears happy dreams. 

The hard-faced woman sat at the table looking 
at her gains, and thinking of the store these stolen 
children should accumulate for her. No pity for 
tliem touched her heart. No thought of remorse 
troubled her. No angels hovered near her. They 
were waiting for one good, true thought. Perhaps 
in time it would come to her, for far away, in a 
'mountain village, an aged mother prayed night and 
day even for this wicked woman. 


A GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT. 


51 


CHAPTER VIII. 



GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT. 

next day was dull and rainy. The chil- 
dren slept late. Marm allowed them to 
sleep as long as they would, because they 
could not go out to sing. When they woke up they 
found a nice hot breakfast ready for them, while 
Marm bustled about in an excellent humor. 

“ So you’re awake at last, are yon?” she said. 
“ I’m going out for a while. Jamie, you give sissy 
her breakfast, and take your own ; here’s some for 
the dog, too. Now be spry and get through, and 
all cleared up before I get back. Then we’ll go to 
work.” 

“What are we to work at?” asked Jamie, while 
Cherry wondered at his courage. She was sure 
she would never dare to ask questions of Marm. 

“ More songs,” replied Marm. “ I’m going for 
some new ones. Then we’ll teach the dog some 


52 


CHERRY, THE SINGER. 


tricks.” Saying which she locked tlie door and 
was gone. 

Little Cherry had learned by this time to wash 
and dress herself, and she was soon by Jamie’s side, 
looking as fresh and neat as a little girl away from 
her mother’s tender care could be expected to look. 

“ We can’t sing out to-day, Cherry,” said Jamie, 
brightly, “ but we can learn new songs.” 

“ And that will help us along,” said Cherry, ear- 
nestly. “ O, Jamie, I must get home soon ! What 
Avill my poor mamma do?” 

The tears stood in her eyes, and in Jamie’s too ; 
but he bravely comforted her. 

“ Don’t cry. Cherry ; we luill go home. Ouly we 
must be patient, and wait for a chance. If we do 
our best, I think we must succeed. So let’s try, 
dear, as hard as we can.” 

So Cherry swallowed her grief, and ate her 
breakfast in quite good spirits. She talked to 
Jamie of her mamma and papa, and little Robbie, 
while he in turn told her of his parents and his 
beautiful home. 

“ I had a pony. Cherry, and a big dog ; his name 
was Kollo, and my pony’s name was Ned. Oil 
had such lots and lots of playthings. My papa was 
very rich. He and mamma loved me so much ! I 
was their only child. They tried hard to get me 


A GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT. 


53 


back again, I know ; for once, a long, long way 
from my home, I saw a notice posted up, with a 
picture of me on it, and ever and ever so many dol- 
lars promised to the one who would bring me 
back.” 

“ If we only dared tell a policeman ! ” mur- 
mured Cherry. 

“ I did once,” said the little fellow, sadly. “ I 
went up to a policeman once, and told him I was 
Jamie Allen, and asked him to take me home to 
my papa ; but he only said, ‘ I couldn’t play that on 
him ; ’ and then Marm saw me, and she gave me a 
terrible whipping, and said if I ever spoke to a 
policeman again she’d have him put me in jail, 
and I’d never be let out again.” 

“ Isn’t she a dreadful woman ? ” cried poor 
Cherry, shivering with fear. 

“ Yes,” answered Jamie. “ She is terrible if 
you make her angry ; but she won’t treat us badly 
if we mind and do as she wants us to do.” 

' “ I hear her coming,” said Cherry. “ O, dear ! 
I am so afraid of her ! ” 

Jamie hurried the dishes into the closet, and 
Cherry put the chairs in their places. By the time 
Marm reached the door, the table was in order for 
the music lesson. 

There were three new pieces. Jamie played 


54 


CHERRY, THE SINGER. 


them over and over, until Cherry was familiar with 
the airs. Then he taught her the words ; after 
which they sang them together, again and again. 

When they had thoroughly learned the new songs, 
they sang those which Cherry had learned the day 
before. 

They were very tired after they had done all that 
Marm required of them, and she allowed them to 
rest, while she taught Muff some ne'w tricks. 

The bright little dog soon learned to go lame on 
three legs, to carry a gun, aim and snap it, to 
dance, and to go up and down a little ladder. It 
took much patience, some coaxing, and a good many 
lessous to perfect him in these new tricks ; but he 
soon grew quite proud of them, and greatly en- 
joyed the petting and praising which the children 
gave him when the lessons were over. 

Several weeks passed in much this way. On 
pleasant days they would sing in the streets, on 
rainy days they would learn new songs. Occasion- 
ally, usually on holidays, they would take Muff to 
rich houses, where there were merry, happy children, 
and exhibit his pretty tricks. The children never 
failed to be delighted with the little creature. 

Cherry and Jamie enjoyed these visits very much, 
and wished that they might occur oftener ; but 
Marm was afraid to bring the children into too 


A GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT. 


55 


much notice, for fear that one or the other might 
be recognized and claimed. 

She determined to keep them both, and make 
them support her. They seldom got less than two 
dollars, and often five in a single day, which was 
more than she could have earned in three. So she 
kept them closely at their tasks, continuing as 
watchful of them as ever ; and the children seeing 
no chance for escape, as the days went by, became 
greatly discouraged. 

The hot weather came on, and under its infiuence 
Cherry drooped and paled, looking more like a lily 
than a cherry. Jamie, too, grew languid and dull ; 
and at last, one evening, Marm, realizing that the 
children were ailing, and dreading to have them 
sick on her hands, told them to take Mulf, and have 
a run on the Common. They were too weary to 
run about, but thankful to escape from under her 
watchful eyes, and to breathe the air with a new 
sense of freedom. 

They sat down near the pond and talked sadly 
together, while Muff frolicked around them. 

“ I don’t believe we’ll ever get away from her, 
Jamie,” said Cherry, despairingly. 

“ We might now,” he answered slowly, “ if I 
only had my violin.” 

“ Yes,” said Cherry. “ Muff is here. O ! I 


56 


CHERRY, THE SINGER. 


wish you had it ! If we could only, only get away 
from her ! ” 

“ From whom do you wish to get away, chil- 
dren ? ” asked a pleasant voice close to them. 

The children looked up quickly, very much 
frightened, but were reassured by the kindly face 
which looked down upon them, the owner of which 
they both recognized as the mate of the Portland 
steamer. The stranger smiled upon them, and 
repeated his question. “From whom do you wish 
to escape?” 

“ From the wmman who stole us?” cried Jamie, 
desperately, rising and facing this man, whom it 
seemed God had raised up for them for a friend. 
“ She stole us both, and took us away from our 
homes.” 

“ AVho is this woman? What is her name?” 
asked the officer. 

“ She makes us call her ‘Harm,’” said Jamie, 
“ but once I saw a letter from the man who w'as 
with her when she stole me, and the name on the 
letter was ‘ Kate Hovey.’ ” 

“ My time is short,” said the officer. “ If I am 
to help you, you must both do just as I say.” 

He sat down beside them, and taking a hand of 
each, asked them to tell him all about it, where the 
w'oman found them, and who they were. 


A GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT. 


57 


“ Why ! it’s the little boy and girl I saw on the 
steamer ! ” he exclaimed. “ Where did you vanish ? 
I wanted to see you again. I thought then that 
there was something wrong.” 

With wildly throbbing hearts the two children 
told their touching stories in a simple manner, 
which carried conviction straight to tlie officer’s 
kind heart. 

“ So she stole you from New York, my lad, and 
the little girl from Maine. Who are you both?” 

Jamie was just about to reply. A wild suspicion 
of whom they might really be had flashed through 
the officer’s mind, and Jamie had opened his lips to 
speak, when, looking up, he saw the cruel face of 
the woman whom he dreaded, and upon it there 
was such an expression of rage, that the poor child 
turned weak and sick with fear. 

She seized upon the children, giving them each 
a shake and a box, asked what they meant by tell- 
ing the gentleman their lies, and dragged them off 
with her. 

Mr. Evans sprang to his feet, and looked eagerly 
around for an officer. There was none to be seen 
in any direction. Only three rough-looking men 
were near, and these were partially drunk. So all 
he could do was to hurry after Marm, and watch 
where she went with the children, lie was sure 


58 


CHERRY, THE SINGER. 


that their stories were true. From the first he had 
distrusted this woman. He wished the children 
had given their names ; he was almost sure that 
they were Jamie Allen and Cherry Halstead. 
Something must be done for them at once. What 
could he do? 

He could mark the house where the woman lived, 
and notify the police of his suspicions. That was 
all that he could do ; for his boat sailed in an hour, 
the captain was sick, and he as first officer must 
take his place. 

“ I wdll help them,” he murmured. “ Please 
God, I will take them home next time I come here. 
I will get leave of absence, and prove if their stories 
are not true. Courage, little ones ! it is not long 
to wait. Only two days ! ” 

They knew he followed them, for they could hear 
his footsteps coming steadily after, and with lighter 
hearts they returned with their jailer. 

The rooms had a curious look, they thought, 
when they entered them. Marrn stopped in the 
entry to speak with the woman who owned the 
house. A large bundle, done up in a shawl, was 
on the fioor in the room. Everything was packed 
up. 

The children looked at each other in dismay. It 


A GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT. 


50 


was evident that Marni was leaving the house. 
They could hear her talking to the landlady. 

“ My children don’t seem very well,” she was 
saying to the woman, “ and I’m going to take 
them to the mountains.” 

She turned as she said this, and looked threaten- 
ingly at them, warning them not to speak. 

They did not attempt to ; they only looked 
wearily at each other and sighed. Just now it 
seemed that escape had been open to them, but 
hereafter she would watch them closer than ever. 

“ They don’t look very well, certainly,” said the 
kind-hearted, unsuspecting woman. “ If you won’t 
take offence, ma’am, I don’t think you give them 
liberty enough ; they are pretty children, but too 
quiet. They ought to run out and play more.” 

“ I’m so afraid of their picking up bad words 
and ways, ma’am,” sighed Marm, hypocritically. 
“ They are all I have in tl\p world, and I couldn’t 
bear them to take to the bad.” 

“O, they never will,” said the little woman heart- 
ily. “ They have good faces. I am sorry you are 
going, dears, and I hope it’s for your good. If you 
ever come this way again. I’d be glad to have you 
here for the children’s sake, ma’am.” 

She bustled off, and Marm pushed the children 
into the room. 


60 


CHERRY, THE SINGER. 


“ We’re going away again, right off,” said she, 
quickly. “Jamie, bring me tliat basket.” She 
pointed to a covered basket on the table. Jamie 
handed it to her, and in silent misery he and Cherry 
watched her pop Muff into it, and fasten down the 
covers. 

A knock at the door startled them all. The chil- 
dren’s hearts beat fast with hope, but it was only 
the kind-hearted little landlady with some cakes for 
their journey. 

Marm thanked her, for the children were too dis- 
appointed to speak. Then telling Jamie to take the 
basket, she took up the bundle, and saying good- 
by, hurried them out. 

They had been gone about an hour, when two 
police officers visited the house to arrest Kate 
Hovey, and take the children under their protection. 
There had been some delay in getting to the place, 
and owing to this delay Marm had had time to 
escape. 

The landlady told her story, and the police told 
theirs. 

“ I thought the little things looked scared,” she 
said. “ Dear, dear me ! to think that she stole 
them, after all, and to hear her talk of being afraid 
to let them out for fear of their getting into bad 


A GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT. 


61 


company. The deceitful thing ! They were pretty 
children too ! Poor little things ! ” 

“ How long has she been gone?” 

“Just about an hour, sir. What a pity you 
didn’t get here earlier. But you’ll catch them yet, 
I do hope.” 

“ Said she was going to the mountains, did she? ” 
asked one of the officers, hurriedly. “ Can you tell 
us anything else, ma’am? ” 

“ No, sir. I only wish I could. Dear heart ! 
stolen, stolen! Jamie Allen right under my own 
roof all these weeks, and I not to know it, and ten 
thousand dollars’ reward, just for him alone. I’m 
glad, any way, that I v/as kind to the poor little 
things. Dear me — dear me ! ” 

Unable to control her surprise, she stood at the 
door watching the police officers, now far down the 
street. 

As for the officers, they were provoked to find 
themselves thus outwitted, as they thought, but had 
no doubt of discovering their prisoner immediately. 

They reported at headquarters. All the depots 
were examined, all the trains for the country tele- 
graphed to, and all the police were notified of her 
escape. But in spite of these precautions, for the 
second time, Marm had disappeared with the two 
children, and they could find no trace of her. 


62 


CHERRY, THE SINGER. 


Mr. Evans, the first mate of the steamer, was 
greatly distressed when he found that the police had 
failed in their effort to take the woman, and bit- 
terly reproached himself for not having taken the 
poor children with him in spite of her. 

He had written to their fathers an account of his 
interview with them, and dreaded now to inform 
them that they were lost again. 

It seemed very singular too, for, according to the 
landlady’s statement, the woman was ready to go, 
and waiting for the children to return ; so it could 
not have been the fear of his interference which 
caused her flight. He could not understand it. 

Now the facts of the case were these. The 
young composer who had been so much interested 
in Cherry, when he first heard her sing, had 
engaged Marm to take the children to Newport, to 
sing his new songs there. He was to pay her two 
dollars a week and expenses, and she could have what- 
ever else she could earn through the children. She 
" was to have them sing no songs but his, and was 
to start at once. 

If they did well there, he would make the same 
arrangement with her for other places. It was 
through him, therefore, that she had gone, , not to 
the mountains, as she had said, but to Newport. 

If it had been made generally known who these 


A GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT. 


G3 


little singing children were, they would have been 
quickly found, for the young composer would have 
known them at once, and he was an honorable gen- 
tleman, and would gladly have assisted them to find 
their homes. 

But it was thought best by the police to keep the 
case as quiet as possible, as there seemed more 
chance of finding the woman if she was not 
alarmed. 

So the case was kept from the public, and all who 
were interested could only watch, and wait, and 
hope. 


64 


CHERRY, THE SINGER. 


CHAPTER IX. 



AN ENGAGEMENT. 

HE poor little ones, worn and sad, reached 
their new quarters late at night. 

The composer had taken lodgings for 
them in a little quiet cottage, near the principal 
hotels. 

They could not see the ocean, it was so dark ; but 
they could hear its beat upon the shore, and the 
sound made them feel more lonely and sad. 

Before she would let them go to sleep, Marm 
stained their skins dark with the juice of walnut 
leaves, threatening them severely if they ever dared 
say again that they were stolen, and making them 
promise, if people spoke to them, never to answer. 

“ It is too cruel ! ” sobbed poor Cherry. “ We 
can never get away from her now ! ” 

“ Sh ! sh ! ” answered Jamie, cautiously ; but he 
could not comfort her much, for his heart was as 
sore as hers. 


AN ENG A GEMENT. 


65 


But the next morning, when they could run with 
Muff upon the beach, and pick up pebbles and 
shells ; when they could see the great waves come 
rolling in, tossing their white caps ashore, and the 
sail-boats go by like birds upon the water ; when 
they felt the cool waves upon their bare feet, and 
the fresh breezes blowing upon their warm cheeks, 
they brightened up, and agreed that, although it 
was dreadful to be taken off just as they were to 
be rescued from Marm, still this M^as better than 
the hot, dusty city ; and they would try to be glad 
and good, and if another chance offered them to 
escape they would embrace it. 

“ I’m sure God sent that kind man,” said little 
Cherry, confidently ; “ and he’ll send him again.” 

“ Yes,” answered Jamie, “ or some other.” 

“ And till then He will take care of us.” 

“ Yes, if we’re good.” 

“ I try to be ; don’t you ? I never forget my 
prayers now.” 

And Cherry looked pensively at the blue sky, as 
if wondering what else she could do to prove that 
she wanted to be good. 

“ I say my prayers, too,” said Jamie, “ but I 
don’t love everybody. I don’t love Marm. I hale 
her ; and that is wrong.” 

“ I’m afraid I do, too,” said Cherry, sorrowfully ; 

5 


66 


CHERRY, THE SINGER. 


“ and I suppose it is wrong. I’ll tell you what, 
Jamie, when Ave say our prayers, let’s ask God not 
to let us hate Marm, and let’s pray Him to make 
her good.” 

“ Yes,” said Jamie, “ we can do that.” 

Unnoticed by the children, Marm had draAvn near 
and heard their last words. 

The tears sprang to her eyes, and she turned 
quickly away and w'alked off by herself. Her heart 
was touched. That these children, whom she had 
Avronged so much, should artlessly talk of praying 
for her she could not foi-get. 

After that morning she Avas kinder to them ; • her 
conscience had begun to Avork. 

She tried to smother her conscience, and to banish 
from her mind the children’s Avords, but she could 
not entirely succeed. Every now and then they 
would recur to her, and slowly they began to influ- 
ence her life. 

The little ones A\'ere alloAved a holiday on the day 
after their arrival, and greatly they enjoyed it. 
They splashed in the Avater, rolled in the sand, 
and climbed the rocks, as they pleased ; and they 
had a thoroughly happy day, as their brightened 
eyes and rosy cheeks proved Avhen they Avent home 
at night. 

On the next day they sang at the different hotels. 


AN ENGAGEMENT. 


67 


and in the afternoon gave an exhibition of little 
Muff’s tricks upon the beach. A crowd of de- 
lighted children surrounded them, from whom the 
little dog earned many pennies. The little singers, 
too, became great favorites, and did a thriving busi- 
ness ; while' the songs which they sang grew very 
j)opular. 

Many of the ladies and gentlemen became inter- 
ested in the little wanderers, and often asked them 
questions ; but Mann always answered for them, 
“ that they were very shy, and could not be made 
to talk.” This did not prevent the interest felt in 
them, however, and many little dainties and pres- 
ents found their way into the children’s hands. 
They were happier than they had been before, and 
really there was much to enjoy at Newport. 

Both the children liked to walk on the beach, and 
see the fine horses and carriages, and the gayly- 
dressed people. 

“ There is a pony almost like mine ! ” Jamie cried 
one day, heartily envying a little fellow who rode 
beside his father, laughing and talking. 

“ And that black horse in the buggy looks like 
my papa’s Comet ! ” Cherry exclaimed. 

Sometimes they would single out persons who 
seemed to them to resemble their parents, and pre- 
tend that they lived with tliein and shared their 


68 


CHERRY, THE SINGER. 


pleasures. Out of these fancies they gained much 
comfort. Childhood is so blest that in the midst 
of its gravest sorrows it can grow smiling and 
light-hearted. 

Marm kept them at Newport after the season was 
over, until the very cold weather came. Tliey were 
very successful, continuing to please all who heard 
them, and earning a good deal of money. 

Just before they left, when the children were 
actually looking forward to returning to their kind 
landlady in Boston, a prominent temperance lec- 
turer arrived at the city. 

He heard their music, talked with Marm, and 
finally decided to take them out west with him in 
the spring, to sing in several temperance meetings 
of which he had charge. 

Marm said nothing to them of the change in her 
plans, but they soon found out that they were going 
farther away from home. The journey was long 
and wearisome, and they were thoroughly tired out 
before they reached its end. 

While spring advanced. Cherry was taken sick 
with a fever, and even Marm was afraid that she 
would die. 

The little thing was worn and w'eak with grief 
and exposure. She seemed to have no strength 
left to baffle the disease ; she lay, day after day. 


AN ENG A GEMENT. 


69 


moaning with pain, only soothed by Jamie^s loving 
hands, but unconscious of all around her. 

Little Muff nestled beside her, eating little, full 
of mute sympathy for his gentle mistress. 

No persuasion could induce Jamie now to play or 
sing. He sat by Cherry’s side, waiting upon her, 
doing what he could to soothe her, and refused to 
leave her for anything. 

The doctor, whom Marm was forced to call in to 
attend the little girl, looked very grave. He said 
she was a very sick child, and nothing but the most 
careful nursing would save her. 

Marm was thoroughly frightened ; Jamie nearly 
heart-broken. The faithful little fellow did what he 
could, and mourned that it was so little. He would 
sit by the bedside, hour after hour, gazing sadly 
upon the little thin flushed face on the white pil- 
low, and vainly longing for one conscious look or 
word. 

The woman would look remorsefully at poor 
Cherry, thinking of the healthy, light-hearted 
child as she first saw her; then she would turn 
away and try to stifle her conscience, but only to 
be drawn again to the side of the moauing little 
sufferer. 

One afternoon, when the child seemed sinking, 
she hurried out for some medicine which the doctor 


70 


CHERRT, THE SINGER. 


had ordered. He told her lie would look in agaia 
in an hour ; he thought the end was near. 

She came back again quickly ; standing an instant 
in tlie door-way, to her surprise, she heard a feeble 
voice, — ' 

“Jamie?” 

“ O, Cherry dear, what is it?” Jamie asked, 
keeping back the joyful tears which rushed to his 
eyes, but unable to keep the glad thrill from his 
voice. 

“ Please give me some water.” 

The little fellow complied, putting his arm ten- 
derly around her, and helping her to raise her 
head to drink from the glass which he held to her 
lips. 

Cherry drank eagerly, then sank back on her 
pillows, seeming much refreshed. She felt little 
Muff’s soft tongue gently lapping her little parched 
cheeks ; and putting one hand weakly forward, she 
tenderly patted the little creature. 

“ Poor little Muff ! ” she whispered. “ I’ll give 
him to you, Jamie.” 

“ Don’t,” sobbed the boy ; “ don’t talk so. Cherry. 
You’ll get well now.” 

“ I don’t want to,” she answered, wearily. “ I 
want to go to heaven. I am so tired ! ” 


AN ENGAGEMENT. 


71 


After a pause, which was broken only by Jamie’s 
sobs, she spoke again, — 

“ I’m sorry to leave yon, Jamie ; you have been 
kind to me always, and I love you dearly. Kiss 
me, Jamie, dear.” 

lie tenderly kissed the little dry lips, and Cherry 
went on in a weaker voice, — 

“ Jamie, dear, if ever you get away, I want you 
to tell my mamma — that I longed for her — O, so 
much ! — and kiss papa, poor papa ! and dear little 
Robbie. Now, Jamie, I want to say my prayers.” 

There was another pause for breath. Then the 
little wasted hands were folded, the weary eyes 
closed, and tlie tired little voice sounded faint and 
fainter. 

“ God bless dear mamma, dear papa, and my 
dear little Robbie. Please, God, bless Jamie, and 
help him to get home. Please, God — forgive 
Marm — and bless her, for Jesus’ sake. Amen. 

‘ Now I lay me — down to sleep ; 

I pray the Lord — my — soul — to — keep.’ ” 

The last word came in a faint whisper; and, 
sobbing beside her, Jamie finislied the prayer. 

In the doorway, out of sight — for she dared 
not disturb the sick child — stood the wretched 


72 


CHERRY, THE SINGER. 


woman who had wrought the wrong, trembling, 
stricken with remorse and grief. 

She fell upon her knees, and wept, and cried, — 

“ O God, forgive me ! Do not let her die ! I 
will take them both home ! O Lord, have mercy 
upon me ! ” 

Jamie’s heart thrilled with delight. 

“ Cherry,” he whispered, softly, did you hear? ” 

“ Yes — and God heard.” 

AVhen the doctor came back, Jamie and Marm 
still knelt upon the floor. The room was very 
quiet ; he approached the bed, and leaned over 
Cherry. 

“ She sleeps sweetly ; she will live,” he said 


MA RM 'S PR OMISES. 


73 


CHAPTER X. 



atjam. 


HARM’S PROMISES. 


R. ALLEN had sold his beautiful home in 
New York ; he had almost given up all 
hope of ever seeing his little son alive 
Mrs. Allen had never been ^Yell since 
Jamie’s strange disappearance. Now the physi- 
cians had decided that her mind was in danger, and 
had recommended western travel. 

Mr. Halstead was also at the west, delivering 
temperance lectures ; and by singular chance, Mr. 
Evans, the gentleman who had so nearly rescued 
the little wanderers, was now captain of a large, 
new steamer plying Lake Michigan between Chi- 
cago and Milwaukee. 


So many children in different parts of the country 
had been falsely represented to be the lost child, 
Jamie Allen, that Jamie’s father had concluded 
that the child, of whom Mr. Evans had written to 
him, must have been another impostor trained to 


74 


CHERRY, THE SINGER. 


tell the pitiful story by some one anxious to claim 
the large reward offered for information of the child. 
Still he was anxious to see the boy. 

Mr. Evans had not mentioned Jamie’s violin ; 
indeed, he knew nothing about that ; and since the 
very mysterious departure of all from Boston, there 
was sometliiug in the case that he could not under- 
stand himself. 

About little Cherry, however, there was no un- 
certainty ; her description, and that of the little dog 
Muff, answered so exactly that Mr. Halstead lived 
in the hope of seeing his child again. It was some 
Comfort to feel that she had been seen alive and 
well, although unhappy. He wrote hopefidly to 
Mrs. Halstead, assuring her that the police would 
leave nothing undone. Yet his heart failed as days 
and weeks passed, and nothing more was lieard 
from them. 

Cherry, weak and almost helpless, lay for days, 
hovering between life and death ; but, thanks to the 
careful nursing of Jamie, she gradually gained 
strength and color. During her illness Jaime's 
parents arrived at the city, and made a lengthy 
stay at one of the large hotels, and Cherry’s father 
was lecturing throughout the surrounding country. 

To do Marm justice, she tried now in every 
way to make amends to Cherry. Oranges, grapes, 


MARM^S PROMISES. 


75 


and figs were provided to tempt her appetite, and 
she assured the child every day, that as soon as she 
was well enough to travel, she should be taken back 
to her mother. 

And Cherry, though very weak, was happy, and 
many were the plans her little head and Jamie’s 
concocted as she lay slowly coming back to health. 

But their trials were not yet over ; for, when the 
little girl was well enough to be dressed and move 
about, Marm was taken ill with the same fever 
which had proved so nearly fatal to Cherry. She 
begged of the children not to desert her. 

“ Do not leave me,” she said. “ I will surely 
take you back when I get well. You cannot go 
alone ; you could not earn much without me ; peo- 
ple would cheat you ; you might get lost again. O, 
children, let me see you safely home ! ” 

“We will not leave you,” they promised ; and 
they tried to ease and soothe her. 

The doctor tried to get her to go to the hospital, 
but she would not. She paid the woman with whom 
they lodged to look after her ; and as soon as Cherry 
felt able, she allowed the children to go out and earn 
money by singing, as before ; but before allowing 
this, she said to them one day, w'hen they were 
alone, — 

“ Children, I want to speak to you.” 


76 


CHERRT, THE SINGER. 


They came and stood beside her. 

“ Shut the door softly, Jamie.” 

He obeyed her, closing it carefully. 

“ I want to tell you something you must know,” 
she said, sorrowfully. “ Jamie, do you remember 
where you lived with your parents ? ” 

“Yes’m,” answered Jamie; “at Melville, in 
New York.” 

“ Yes. My husband and I stole you. He thought 
to get a great fortune from your father. I don’t 
know where he is now. I think he is dead. Your 
father is a very rich man, Jamie, and has offered a 
great deal of money for you. You must not tell 
any one who you are ; for some person as Avicked 
as I was might find it out, and keep you for the 
money. Cherry belongs in a town called Sherburn, 
not far from Portland. If I live I will take you 
both home. If I don’t, you can tell the doctor 
your story, and he will help you, I think, for ho 
seems a good man.” 

“ Yes ’m,” said Jamie ; “ we’ll do as you say.” 

“ Wc hope you will get well,” said Cherry, softly. 

“ I hope the Lord will let me take you home,” 
she exclaimed. 

“ I hope so,” echoed Jamie. 

“ There is one thing more I want to tell you. In 
this bag around my neck there are fifty dollars. If 


HARM'S PROMISES. 


77 


I don’t get well, give the doctor twenty, to see me 
buried decently ; the rest you and Cherry may have 
to help you home. Now, dry your tears,” — for 
both children were crying, — “ and you can go out 
and begin earning money for yourselves.” 

Just before they went out, however, the lecturer, 
whose plans had been interfered with by Cherry’s 
illness, looked in to see how they were getting along. 
He was sorry to see Mann so ill, but very glad to 
find Cherry better. 

“ Your cheeks are beginning to look quite pink 
again, my little maid,” he said, kindly, smoothing 
her curls with a fatherly toucli. “Do you think you 
you will be well enough to sing at my lecture next 
Wednesday? ” 

“ O, yes, sir ! ” Cherry exclaimed. 

“AVell, then, come out with me now, and I’ll get 
you a new frock to wear. You may come, too, my 
lad, and see what I can do for you.” 

He was a very kind-hearted man ; and believing 
the children to be very poor, and wishing them to 
appear well at the lecture, he decided to buy them 
suitable clothes. 

For Cherry, he found a pretty white frock, with 
broad blue sash, a frill for her neck, and a ribbon 
for her hair. For Jamie, a neat blue suit, with col- 
lar and necktie ; and nice stockings and boots for 


78 


CHERRT, THE SINGER. 


both. He was evidently used to providing for chil- 
dren, and seemed nearly as pleased as these little 
ones when he saw their delight at his gift. 

“ Now, keep those clothes carefully,” he said, 
“ and mind and learn the songs perfectly. I’ll run 
round and hear you sing them to-morrow ; and the 
next day I’ll be round, too, in time to take you to 
the hall.” 

The children promised to be careful of the clothes, 
and attentive to the songs, and ran home in high 
glee. 

“ I’d rather tell him than the doctor, Jamie,” 
said Cherry, contidently. 

“We will tell him if we have to tell any one,” 
Jamie answered ; “ but we must remember our 
promise to Marm.” 

“ O, of course,” said Cherry. 

On reaching their room she gave the bundles of 
clothes a satisfied pat, exclaiming, with girlish de- 
light, — 

“ O, Jamie, isn’t it nice to have some good 
clothes?” 

“ Yes,” he said, “ indeed it is. We will keep 
them very nice to go home in.” 

So they laid them carefully away in the one 
bureau the poor little room afforded, and then sat 
down to learn the music lessons, practising very 


MAR M'S PROMISES. 


79 


softly, so as not to disturb Marm, who was sound 
asleep. ♦ 

“ She was quite bad just now,” said the woman 
who took care of her. “ She talked queerly about 
you children, too.” 

“ What did she say? ” asked Jamie, pushing back 
the hair from his forehead, and pausing in the midst 
of the piece he was playing. 

“ She seemed to think you were stolen,” answered 
the woman, looking curiously at them both. 

“ Did she ? ” said Jamie. 

“ Yes, and she was dreadfully worried about you. 
She kept saying, ‘ O, I must get them back ! I must 
get them back ! ” 

“ Poor Marm ! ” murmured little, generous Cher- 
ry, softly. 

“ Where did you come from? ” asked the woman, 
inquisitively. 

“ From Boston,” Jamie answered. 

“ Had you lived there long? ” she continued. 

“ Not very,” answered Jamie, briefly. “ We 
went there to sing. Come, Cherry, we must learn 
our music, or we won’t be ready for Mr. Curtis.” 

And he began practising again so diligently that 
the woman was obliged to let him alone, although 
she inwardly resolved to find out more about her 
strange lodgers. 


80 


CHERRY, THE SINGER. 


The children determined to guard against her 
curiosity; tliey had decided to’ appeal to Mr. Curtis 
if Marm did not get well, and they rather distrusted 
this inquisitive landlady. 

They felt grateful to Mr. Curtis for his kind 
interest in them, for their pretty new clothes, and 
for his friendly words, while they felt instinctively 
that they could trust him. Their experience with 
Marm, and her late warning to them, had made 
them wise beyond their years. They were sorry 
for her, and hoped that she would get well, and they 
bore her no resentment. Yet they could not forget 
that she had brought all their suffering upon them, 
and they could not be expected to feel much affec- 
tion for her. 


A GLIMPSE OF MUFF. 


81 


CHAPTER XI. 


A GLIMPSE OF MUFF. 

A. HALSTEAD had a few hours in Mil- 
waukee. He was expected to speak at a 
temperance meeting in the evening, and 
having some time on his hands, was walking about in 
the poorer part of the city, distributing temperance 
tracts and kind wmrds ; and now and then, when a 
deserving case met his attention, giving substantial 



help in the way of food or money, as was his cus- 
tom. He did a great deal of good in this way ; his 
kindly sympathy touched people’s hearts, and they 
respected and believed him. 

He did not often refer to himself ; but sometimes, 
'when men would tell him that he knew nothing 
about the temptation to drink, or the difficulty of 
reforming, he would answer, — 

“ Yes, my friend ; I know it all. I was fond of 
drinking once, myself.” 

And knowing this, that he had once been subject 


6 


82 


CHERRT, THE SINGER. 


to the passions which bound them, and that he had 
thrown aside their chains and freed himself, many 
felt that he could help them, and made efforts for 
themselves. 

On this occasion, as he walked along doing what- 
ever he could, and wishing that it could be more, 
as he turned into the poorest street he had yet seen, 
and was passing a dilapidated old house, he heard a 
cry of pain, and paused to listen. Suddenly the 
door flew open, and a little white dog, half frantic 
with pain and fright, dashed against him, with a 
howl, and then flew up a narrow court and into 
the street beyond. 

Mr. Halstead stood for an instant motionless with 
surprise, then he darted after the frightened little 
creature, crying, — 

“Muff! Muff! Here, Muffle — Muff! Muff!” 
Gaining the street, he looked up, down, and around 
in every direction. No dog was to be seen. 

He did not give up, but looked thoroughly 
around, men, Avomen, and children joining, unasked, 
in the search, till the commotion attracted the at- 
tention of an officer. 

He asked questions of the people, and as none of 
them had recognized the dog, told Mr. Halstead it 
was not probable that he belonged in the immediate 
neighborhood, and had most likely gone home. 


A GLIMPSE OF MUFF. 


83 


Ou hearing the description of the house from 
which he had flown in such fright, the officer recog- 
nized that as the home of a dog-fancier who had 
been before the courts more than once on charges 
of stealing dogs. He promised to procure a war- 
rant at once for the man, and they went together to 
the house to question him. They found him nurs- 
ing a severe bite inflicted by the dog. 

“So you’re bitten, are you, Joe?” asked the 
officer, glancing with pity upon three or four half- 
starved looking dogs that were sniffing around the 

o o o 

dirty room. 

“ Ay, I’m bit,” the man replied, looking at them 
surlily. 

“ This gentlemen happened to be passing,” con- 
tinued the officer, motioning towards Mr. Halstead, 
“ and he recognized the dog ; in fact, ’tis one that 
was stolen from him a year ago.” 

“ And I can make it worth your while to tell me 
where you found him now,” said Mr. Halstead. 

“ Pesky little brute ! ” growled Joe, tying a rag 
around his smarting lianJ. “ He don’t belong no- 
where. He’s been strayin’ round, lost, these three 
days. I meant to take care of him, an’ got bit for 
my pains.” 

“ It’s no such thing,” said Mr. Halstead. “ The 
dog was white and clean. If he had been straying 


84 


CHERRY, THE SINGER. 


around for one day even, his long hair would have 
been draggled and soiled. Why can’t you speak 
the truth, my man? I’ll give you twenty dollars if 
you will lead us to the place where you picked up 
that dog.” 

For almost any other dog he had ever known 
Joe would have taken that offer eagerly ; but he 
had seen Muff perform, and knew he could readily 
sell such a well-trained dog for a hundred dollars. 
He determined to get possession of him again, and 
so continued obstinately to persist in the story he 
had told at first. 

At last the officer, losing all patience, arrested 
him, and carried him off, telling Mr. Halstead that 
probably a night at the station-house would refresh 
the fellow’s memory, if he really stole the dog. 

Mr. Halstead told the officer about the disappear- 
ance of his little girl with this dog, and gave a 
description of Cherry. 

The officer did not think the dog-fancier knew 
anything about the child, or he would have been 
more frightened ; but he saw" a chance of tracing her 
through the little dog, and thought the man might 
be frightened into showing them the house where 
the dog belonged, if, indeed, he really knew. Mean- 
while he assured the anxious father that everything 
should be done to trace the child. 


A GLIMPSE OF MUFF. 


85 


So Mr. Halstead sent a message to his wife, and 
spent the rest of the day in searching, and making 
inquiries, but all to no purpose ; and when the time 
came for him to go to the hall and give his lecture, 
he had no news. He waited until the last minute, 
and then hurried to fill his engagement. 


86 


CHERRT, THE SINGER, 


CHAPTER XII. 

GOOD NEWS. 

? ^®UNE had come again, the first of June ; the 
thrushes and finches were flying to and fro 
in Mrs. Halstead’s garden, with wisps of 
hay or bits of moss and feathers in their tiny beaks. 
The robins had settled quietly in the cherry tree ; 
and the little brown sparrows had gone to their old 
quarters in the climbing roses, which were in leaf 
and bud, but not in flower. 

The cherry tree was shaking down its white blos- 
soms, like flakes of snow, and Robbie Halstead 
stood beneath, putting up his dimpled hands to 
catch the pretty things, laughing and shouting with 
childish glee. 

His mother stood beside him with a smile upon 
her lips for him, but with a sad wistfulness in her 
dark eyes for the little daughter who had been lost 
a year. 

Dear little Cherry, everything was suggestive of 


GOOD NEWS. 


87 


her. The cottage stood, with its broad, low win- 
dows open to the sun, and it seemed as if the little 
golden brown head must look forth from them, and 
the sweet voice ripple into song. The garden 
where she had played seemed full of her presence. 
The very tree beneath which they stood had sug- 
gested her little pet name. Here, in this very spot, 
when Cherry was a baby, her mother stood with 
the child in her arms, while Mr. Halstead gathered 
the fruit. He held a spray of the cherries towards 
the child, whose baby delight manifested itself in 
such pretty ways, that her father named her 
Cherry. 

The mother’s heart longed for her darling with 
the sweet face, and the gentle, loving ways. How 
hard it was to think of the dainty, petted child, 
wandering about, singing to strangers ! How she 
longed to take the little weary head to her bosom, 
and comfort her darling, as only a mother can com- 
fort a child ! 

She had written a tender, consoling letter to Mrs. 
Allen, sympathizing with her in her affliction, and 
befrorinix her to feel as she did, that while the children 
were alive there was great hope of recovering them, 
and assuring Mrs. Allen, that she fully believed, 
with the Lord’s help, they would soon be found. 

As for Robbie, she never would let him go out 


88 


CHERRY, THE SINGER. 


of her sight. She kaelt beside him now, miirmur- 

ing,— 

“ O, my darling, how I wish your dear little sis- 
ter would come home ! ” 

“ Sister turn home,” lisped Robbie, throwing his 
chubby arms around her neck, and imprinting on 
her cheek a comforting baby kiss. “ She is tum- 
ming.” 

He said this so earnestly and decidedly, that his 
mother hugged him to her breast with a thrill of 
rapture ; the baby words seemed prophetic ; they 
rang in her ears all day. 

When she returned to the house, while Robbie 
took his nap she arranged Cherry’s little garments 
and toys with loving care ; then she seated herself 
at work with a thrill of excitement she could not 
overcome. 

Towards afternoon there came a violent ringing 

o o 

at the door-bell, and Mary, the maid, came up with 
a telegraphic despatch. Hastily Mrs. Halstead tore 
open the envelope, and read, with wildly beating 
heart, — 

“J have seen Muff. Only a glimpse; hut Fm 
sure it toas Muff. Leave some one in charge, and 
come to Milwaukee at once. 


“ Robert Halstead.” 


GOOD NEWS, 


The date was the same day, and very near the 
hour. Trembling with excitement, she wrote the 
return message, — 

“ I start to-night^ with Eohhie.’’ 

Mary was a faithful girl, and could be left in 
charge of the house with perfect safety. She was 
not at all afraid, and was overjoyed at the prospect 
of seeing Cherry at home again ; besides which, Mrs. 
Halstead’s brother, who had married, was living 
close by, and Mary could call upon him in any dif- 
ficulty. 

So she flew about, helping Mrs. Halstead to 
make her hurried preparations for departure. 

“ To think of seeing the dear child again ! ” she 
exclaimed, wiping the tears from her cheeks with 
her apron. “ O, that blessed little Muff! ” 

“ But it is not certain that Cherry is there,” said 
Mrs. Halstead, wiping away her own tears. “ I 
don’t dare to hope too much ; but it’s the best trace 
Ave’ve had, and w'e must follow it up.” 

. “ O, hope for the best, ma’am !” exclaimed Mary, 
affectionately. “The sweet child !” she went ou, 
wiping some tear-drops wdiich had fallen on a pile 
of Bobbie’s little frocks. “ I shall spoil everything 
I touch, with my foolishness. O, Mrs. Halstead ! 


90 


CHERRT, THE SINGER. 


may the Lord have pity on the hard hearts that 
stole that child from her home ! ” 

Mrs. Halstead’s sister, happening in on an 
errand, staid and helped. She dragged out the 
travelling trunk which had lain idle for years, and 
assisted in packing it. 

“ You’ll put in some things for Cherry, I sup- 
pose,” she said ; and the mother nodded with a 
smile and a tear. 

‘‘ Why don’t you leave Robbie with me ? ” asked 
her sister. “ I’d take the best of care of him.” 

“ I don’t doubt that,” replied Mrs. Halstead ; 
“ but I couldn’t spare him, and I couldn’t go 
alone ; ” and she caught Robbie from his crib and 
kissed him fondly, while he rubbed his sleepy eyes, 
and looked on in astonishment at the unaccustomed 
confusion. 

The packing was soon finished ; all the arrange- 
ments were made for the long journey. Mrs. Hal- 
stead’s brother drove them to the station with Comet, 
and put her into the express train, with the best of 
wishes for success in her undertaking. Slie started 
bravely, with only Robbie for her companion ; as 
for him, he travelled like a little man, giving his 
mamma but little trouble, and interesting all his 
fellow-travellers by his winning ways and baby 
prattle. 


MUFF STOLEN. 


91 


CHAPTER XIII. 



MUFF STOLEN. 

•AMIE and Cherry soon learned the songs 
given them by Mr. Curtis, and had nothing 
more to do. 

The room was in order ; Marm was too sick to 
be helped by them ; the air was getting close, and 
the landlady who watched by Marm’s side was 
growing altogether too inquisitive ; so they decided 
to go out into the street, and sing for themselves, 
allowing Muff to go with them. 

At first they sang in the stores, and did very well, 
gaining many pennies, which Jamie felt less shame 
at receiving because these were earned with an 
honest purpose. 

People were interested, as they always were, in 
the two pretty children. Jamie, with his dark eyes 
and clear-cut face, full of the soul of his music ; 
Cherry, with her dark-brown hair and eyes of wist- 
ful blue, her graceful form swaying unconsciously to 


92 


CHERRY, THE SINGER. 


the rhythm of the violin, and her sweet, bird-like 
voice floating out in clear, full tones ; they were a 
pretty pair. 

After a while they left the stores, and went to the 
hotel — the very hotel where Jamie’s father and 
mother were staying. They played here before the 
office, and, receiving their pennies, went on towards 
the houses. 

It was Wednesday afternoon, and the children 
were out of school, and our little musicians soon 
wished that Marm was with them. Beneath her 
stern eye no one had ever ventured to troulile 
them ; but now some rude boys annoyed them by 
teasing Muff. Tliey moved on, but their little tor- 
mentors followed them, and quite a number of other 
children follow'ed after for fun. Cherry was greatly 
distressed, and nearly crying. 

“ Give us a tune,” said a rude boy. 

“ Yes,” cried another, “ play, and I’ll make your 
little bear dance.” 

And he made a plunge at Muff, who barked and 
snapped at him. 

“ Ain’t he spunky?” cried*a third, in high glee. 

“ Bet you dar’sn’t do that again, Lou ! ” 

“Ho! dar’sn’t I? Come, Fiddle, squeak up.” 

“ I’ll tell you what,” said Jamie, facing them, and 
speaking quietly, “ if you will go away and let us 


MUFF STOLEN. 


93 


alone, I’ll show you what this little dog can do. 
He knows ever so many tricks.” 

“ Let’s see what he can do,” said an older voice ; 
and turning quickly, the Children saw that a man 
had joined the group beside them. He was an ill- 
looking man, shabbily dressed ; his hair hung into 
his eyes, partly hiding them, and he carried a cov- 
ered basket on his arm ; he seemed friendly to the 
children, and ordered those who had troubled them 
to behave themselves, or else to go off. 

They all stood around quietly enough now’- while 
Jamie put little Muff through his tricks. 

“ Sit up, sir,” said Jamie, first ; and Muff imme- 
diately “ sat up,” straight as a soldier. 

“ Now'-, w'alk,” said Jamie ; and the little crea- 
ture obeyed, gravely stepping out, with his fore- 
paws in the air. 

Jamie began to play, slowly at first, then faster 
and faster, while Muff changed his walk to a dance, 
keeping time to the music. 

“ Be a dead dog,” said Jamie, presently ; and 
Muff dropped to the ground, closed his eyes, and 
stretched out all his little limbs stiff and straight. 

“ Go lame,” said Jamie. Instantly he jumped 
up and limped around on three legs, holding up the 
fourth very pitifully. 

Next Jamie and Cherry, kneeling down, made 


94 


CHERRT, THE SINGER. 


hoops of their arms, and Muff jumped through and 
back ; after which he sat up with his fore paws 
folded, waiting for further orders. 

That will do for to-day,’^ said Cherry, patting 
him fondly. “ O, you darling ! ” she added, giving 
him a good hug, “ how nicely you did everything ! ” 

MutF was as pleased as anybody. He capered 
around, wagging his tail, and jumping upon his 
little mistress, until she took him in her arms to 
carry. 

“ He’s a nice little dog,” said the man, turning to 
go. “He’s cute enough, too. Want to sell him?” 

“ O, no, indeed ! ” said Cherry, alarmed. “ Come, 
Jamie, let’s go home.” 

“ I’ll give you two dollars,” said the man, setting 
down his basket. “ Come ? ” 

“ No,” said Cherry, hugging him tight. “ I 
wouldn’t sell him for two thousand.” 

The man laughed and walked off. The children 
who had followed went home, and Cherry and Jamie 
were left- with Muff. 

“ Let’s get him some meat for a treat, Cherry,” 
Jamie suggested, “ he did so nicely.” 

“ I was just thinking of that,” said Cherry ; 
“ there is a butcher’s shop.” 

So the children went in, and the butcher gave 
them some little scraps of meat for two cents. 


MUFF STOLEN. 


95 


Muff ate tlicni with great relish, then trotted 
proudly out of the shop with a little bone which he 
had picked up. He took it to a neighboring door- 
mat to gnaw at it, and the children sat down upon 
the curbstone to count their money. This took some 
time, for it was mostly in pennies, the jingling of 
wliich prevented their hearing the footsteps behind 
them, or the low growling of Muff. 

A sliarp yelp aroused them, and, looking quickly 
round, they saw the man who had asked to buy the 
dog, taking to his heels, while Muff was nowhere 
to be seen. 

Cherry burst into a passion of tears, and ran after 
him. Jamie followed, shouting, — 

“ Stop, sir ! stop ! Give us back our dog ! 

It was of no use. The man ran on, out of sight, 
with poor little struggling Muff in his basket. No- 
body interfered ; nobody cared for two poorly- 
dressed little children crying bitterly in the street. 

“ I can’t sing to-night,” sobbed Cherry. “ I can’t 
do anything without Muff.” 

Jamie did not know what to say or do ; but pres- 
ently an idea occurred to him. 

“ Let’s go back and tell the butcher.” 

They went. He was a kind-hearted man, and 
told them he would help them. He sa\y the thief 
pass the store ; he would know the dog again ; then 


96 


C HERR I', THE SINGER. 


lie called ia a policeman, and spoke to him about 
it. So, though still feeling very badly, they went 
home comforted. 

Jamie had put away the violin and the pennies, 
and Cherry was washing her tear-stained face, when 
they heard the familiar sound of little claws scratch- 
ing eagerly at the door. They flew to open it. In 
hounded Muff, half wild with terror, and hid him- 
self in Cherry’s loving arms. 

Ilis mouth and paws were stained with blood ; 
his little heart beat wildly, and he panted for breatli ; 
but he Avas safe and unhurt, and great was the joy 
of his little mistress. 

The tear stains quickly disappeared now ; the 
child’s face was wreathed with happy smiles. They 
all ate their supper of bread and milk together, and 
Jamie washed and put away the bowls and spoons. 
Then he and Cherry sang over the two new songs 
again ; after which the landlady helped them to dress 
in their nice new clothes. 

She brushed and curled Cherry’s long hair, and 
arranged the ribbons nicely over the pretty white 
frock. She bruslied Jamie’s hair, and arranged his 
collar and necktie. When the dressing was all 
completed, she surveyed them with mingled pride 
and amazement. 

“ Why, you are different children ! ” she said. 


MUFF STOLEN. 


97 


“ You look splendidly ! After all, it’s half the 
battle to have nice clothes.” 

The children looked at each other with pleasure, 
wishing that they might never have to put on their 
old rags again. 

When Mr. Curtis came in, he looked gratified at 
the change in their appearance. 

“ How is your motlier?” he asked. 

They had both been thinking of their parents, and 
for an instant did not understand him. Then Jamie 
said, — 

“ O, Marm, you mean? She’s about the same. 
The doctor’s been twice to-day.” 

“ Then she isn’t your mother?” said Mr. Curtis, 
quickly. “ Is she yours?” turning to Cherry. 

“ No, sir.” 

“How came you with her, then?” asked the 
gentleman, greatly interested, while the landlady 
stood by, with mouth and eyes wide open, swallow- 
ing every word. 

Jamie looked frankly into his face. 

“ I wish we might tell you,” said he, longingly ; 
“ but, when she was taken sick, she made us promise 
not to tell our story to any one unless she died. She 
promised to take us home herself if she got well, and 
I think we can trust her ; for she prayed to God to 
let her get well for our sakes.” 

7 


98 


CHERRY, THE SINGER. 


“ Who are you, then ? ” 

“ We are stolen children/’ 

“ Good land, alivel ” broke in the landlady. “ I 
always thought there was something wrong.” 

“ This is very singular,” said Mr. Curtis, thought- 
fully ; “ very singular. I won’t advise you to break 
a promise, children ; but I’ll come to-morrow and 
talk with you. I will look after you, and be your 
friend. Meanwhile I will take you under my pro- 
tection. Come now, or we shall be late.” 

Cherry kissed Muff, and put him in a chair. 

“ Don’t let him go out, please, while we’re gone,” 
she said. 

“ No, indeed,” replied the landlady. “ I’ll take 
care of him. Good night, sir ; good luck, chil- 
dren. Stolen, stolen ! Good laud, alive ! ” 


THE DISCOVERT. 


99 


CHAPTER XIV. 



THE DISCOVERY. 

HE hall was crowded. Two famous lec- 
turers were to be present, and everybody 
was anxious to hear them. 

There had been much good temperance work 
done in the city by lectures, relief societies, and 
praying bands ; and there was occasion for much 
more, for in certain portions intemperance was rife. 
Mr. Curtis was well known here. His earnest, 
hearty manner had gained him many admirers, 
while his simple, touching words won the hearts of 
others. 

To-night he spoke of the change in Milwaukee, 
conjrratulated its citizens on the j^reat stride tern- 
perance had taken there, and begged them not to 
pause in the good work, but to keep from tempta- 
tion themselves, and to lend a helping hand to 
others. 

He drew' living pictures of the difference between 


V 


100 CHERRT, THE SINGER. 

the happy homes of temperance and industry, and 
the poverty and squalor of the drunkard’s home. 

“I know all about the horrors of thirst, the ter- 
rible tendency to yield to temptation, and the fiery 
trial of reform ! ” he cried. “ I have been through 
it all. I was myself a drunkard. 

“ My friends, what do you think reformed me? 
I was going home one night, not drunk, for an 
exception. It was after a crazy time when I had 
assaulted my own dear wife and children. I drew 
near my door, feeliug quite satisfied with myself, 
when I heard my oldest little girl cry out, — 

“ ‘ You needn’t hide, children. Father is sober 
to-night ! ’ 

Her words cut to my heart like a knife. 

O, the misery, the sorrow, the shame and 
crime of a home where loving, innocent children 
hide from their father, because he is drunk ! ” 

lie stepped from the platform, and led up Jamie 
and Clierry, who sang, to the music of the lad’s 
violin, a little, simple, pathetic song. 

“ Father is sober To-night. 

“O, Eddie, come out of the corner; 

And Kitty, come into the light! 

I see him ; I liear him ; he’s coming, 

And father is sober to-niglit. 


j I 


V 








t 



THE DISCOVERT. 


101 


So, come, cliilclren, come, let us greet him; 

AVhen sober he’s loving and kind ; 

Let’s run to the doorway and meet him ; 

Briglit faces and glad let him find.” 

“ Ho, Eddie, my boy ! is that you, sir? 

But what is that scar on your brow ? 

AVliat? ‘/gave it to you,’ my darling, 

‘ When drunken last night, in a row? ’ 

And Kitty, my bright little fairy. 

Did I liurt you, my birdie? Your hand? 

And mother? ‘ Her face in a bandage? ’ 

God help me ! I don’t understand. 

“Did I do all that to my dear ones? 

Not /, but the demon of drink; 

O ! if it can so overpower me, 

’Neath sorrow and shame I must sink. 

Come, mother, come, children, and kiss me ; 

Forgive all this sorrow and pain ; 

I promise, — God help me ! — I promise 
I’ll never touch liquor again.” 

The pathetic words, the modesty of the children, 
and their sweet voices, charmed the audience, wlio 
demanded the song again and again. 

They repeated it twice ; then, as the people con- 
tinued to applaud and call for them, they sang 
another. 


102 


CHERRY, THE SINGER. 


“Father, Little Willie’s Dying. 

“ Father, little Willie’s dying. 

And lie wants you, father dear. 

Mother’s by the cradle crying. 

And I came to seek you here. 

Father, come and kiss the baby ; 

Leave your glass, and come with me. 

He has called for you, and may be 
You his smile once more may see. 

He is dying, — he is dying; 

And his parting smile you’ll miss. 
Father, come, the time is flying; 

Come and give him one last kiss. 

“Father, come, the time is flying, 

Willie was your little pet; 

Surely you will please him, dying; 

Father, you will not forget. 

All day long he’s talked of heaven 
And the angels, bright and fair; 

Prayed that you might be forgiven; 

Begged us all to meet him there. 

He is dying, — he is dying; 

, And his parting smile you’ll miss. 
Father, come, the time is flying; 

Come and give him one last kiss.’’ 

Many a rough man in the audience drew his 
hand across his eyes to wipe away the tears as this 
song was sung. The plaintive air, and the pathetic 


THE DISCOVERT. 


103 


voices of the children giving to the simple words a 
power which was felt by all. 

AVhile they were still singing there were some 
late arrivals at the hall — two gentlemen and a 
lady. One of the gentlemen was the other lecturer, 
who was to speak after Mr. Curtis. They were 
shown to the front seats, where room was made for 

them, and when seated they turned their attention 
towards the little singers. 

What was there so. remarkable about the chil- 
dren as to cause the lady to start violently, and the 
gentleman to utter exclamations? They were evi- 
dently very much excited. What did it mean? 

When the song ceased, the lecturer started from 
his seat with a cry of joy ; he sprang upon the stage 
forgetful of the place and the people around him, 
and sweet little Cherry Halstead was clasped once 
more in her father’s arms. 

“ O, papa ! papa ! ” was her cry of delight, as she 
nestled close to his heart. “ I am so glad, papa ! ” 

Jamie looked at them with joyful surprise ; but 
suddenly noticing that some one else was moving 
towards the stage, he started, trembling violently; 

then, with a joyful sob, he darted forward, violin in 
hand, crying hysterically, — 

‘‘ Father, mother ! O, mamma ! mamma ! ” 

The audience were powerfully excited. They 


104 


CHERRT, THE SINGER. 


rose to their feet, and many of them stood upon the 
seats in order to see the group around the stage. 

“What is it? AYlio are they?” was the cry, 
repeated again and again. 

Somebody ventured to surmise that they were 
lost children, and this went round the hall like 
wildfire. 

Mr. Curtis stepped down from the platform and 
spoke to Mr. Halstead, then shook hands heartily 
with him. After this he congratulated the gen- 
tleman and lady with Jamie ; then mounted tlie 
platform, and addressed the audience, who instantly 
became so quiet that the dropping of a pin could 
have been heard in the hall. 

“ Ladies and gentlemen, we have to-night wit- 
nessed a scene of extraordinary joy. We have seen 
the restoration of two stolen children to their 
parents. The little girl, whose modest bearing and 
sweet voice have charmed you so to-night, is little 
Cherry Halstead, the daughter of the gentleman 
wdio will address you shortly. She was stolen 
from her home a year ago>,” 

A murmur of applause, growing to a cheer, long 
and heartily given, here interrupted the speaker. 
When it was quiet again, he resumed. 

promising boy who sang with her, and 
wiio handles his violin wonderfully for one so 


THE DISCOVERT. 


105 


young, is the child of whom you have so often 
heard, for whose recovery the whole country has 
been moved, — the lost boy, Jamie Allen.” 

There was great excitemeut now. People stood 
upon the seats stretching their necks, and jostling 
one another to get a sight of the children and their 
parents, while loud hurrahs, swinging caps, and 
weaving handkerchiefs, testified their heartfelt sym- 
pathy. 

Waiting for the clamor to subside, Mr. Curtis 
continued : — 

“ My friends, we thank you for your kind sympa- 
thy. For two years, all over this great country,* hearts 
have ached for the lonely grief of the parents of 
Jamie Allen. Immense rewards have been offered, 
the whole country vigilant, but seemingly to no 
purpose. The boy was stolen from his home while 
playing upon the sidewalk, by the man, John Hovey, 
and his wife Kate ; both of them — drunk I They 
hoped to secure a large reward from his rich 
parents, and deliberately planned this cruel scheme, 
but their villany brought its own reward. They 
could not obtain the money without being deliv- 
ered to justice. 

‘‘ John Hovey is dead. He was shot while 
attempting to break into a house at New York. 
The woman is probably dying. You will be glad 


106 


CHERRY, THE SINGER. 


to know that she has repented her wicked course, 
and longs to atone to these poor children. One 
word for them, and I have done. These little ones, 
in the midst of an overwhelming sorrow, have 
borne themselves like Christian martyrs. They 
have lived with crime, unsullied by it. They have 
always tried to do what they knew to be right. 
They bear no resentment to the woman who has 
wronged them. It is through their influence that 
she has asked for forgiveness and mercy from the 
Lord. 

“ O, may He bless the cause of Virtue and Tem- 
perance ! May such crimes as these be unknown 
in our land. May theft, rapine, and murder be 
crushed under foot together with intemperance, — 
the scorpion that nourishes them.” 

He made way for Mr. Halstead, who spoke with 
emotion. 

“ I cannot deliver my lecture to-night, kind 
friends. In it'S place I will tell you a short story. 

“ Some years ago, I was asked to sign a tem- 
perance pledge. O, would that I had done so ! 
What sorrow and shame, what remorse and anxiety, 
the act would have saved me ! 

“ I was a young man then, proud in my own 
strength. I laughed. I could take care of myself. 
I would not sign. Let others take the pledge, I 


THE DISCOVERT. 


107 


said, if they like ; no doubt it is a great help to 
many ; but it is a confession of weakness. I do not 
need it. There is no danger of my becoming a 
drunkard. I can drink a little wine now and then 
without hurting myself. I could not realize that 
the deepest danger lay in indulging this first desire 
for extra stimulus ; so I went on in my own path, 
refusing the aid of this great safeguard, blindly 
trusting in myself. A year ago I drank wine 
freely. I had been intoxicated several times. My 
gentle wife was grieved and anxious. My home 
was feeling the influence of my excesses. I was 
conscious that in the use of wine I could not con- 
trol myself. 

“ One day, while riding with my dear little 
daughter — God bless her ! — she innocently re- 
proached me. 

“ ‘ Papa, are you going to Rice’s tavern? That 
was why mamma looked so sad. She always does 
look sad when you go to Rice’s. What makes you 
go there, papa?’ 

“ Her words cut my heart. I determined that 
my wife and children should not suffer through me. 
I resolved, — not that I would never go there again, 
— but that this time should be the last time, and I 
promised my little girl accordingly. 

“ How happy my promise made her, — sweet, 


108 


CHERRr, THE SINGER. 


ininisteriug child ! 1 left her carolling a merry 
song in the garden of the hotel, while I went to 
yield to temptation for the last time. I forgot my 
good resolutions. I became intoxicated. My help- 
less child was stolen from the garden, I presume, 
by this Avoman, Kate Hovey, and from that day to 
this I have never seen or heard from her, although 
no pains or money were spared in the search for 
her. 

“ I will pass over my anguish and despair, and 
the grief of my heart-broken wife. I resolved to 
devote myself to the cause of temperance, and to 
search the world for my child. To-night I found 
her. God has richly blessed me. May He so 
bless our good Avork ! ” 

The audience were dismissed, and crowded 
around to congratulate the happy group. 

One gentleman who came forward Avas recog- 
nized as Mr. Evans, Captain Evans now, the former 
ollicer of the Portland steamer. 

Jamie and Cherry were delighted to see him, and 
have him Avitness their joy ; Avhile he and Mr. Cur- 
tis Avere cordially thanked for their kindness to 
the children. 

Mr. Curtis got a carriage for them, and Mr. and 
Mrs. Allen, Jamie, Cherry, and her father drove 


THE DISCOVERT. 


109 


off for the hotel. But first Cherry begged that they 
might go and get Muff. 

“ Why, where is Muff? ” asked Mr. Halstead. 
“ I thought he was lost. I saw him flying through 
tlie streets this afternoon, but could not get near 
him.” 

“ He came straight home,” said Cherry. “ He 
is there now.” 

So they drove to the landlady’s house to get the 
faithful little dog. Mr. Halstead briefly told the 
landlady of the recovery of the children, and prom- 
ised to see Mrs. Hovey the next day. 

Then the happy party drove to the hotel for the 
night. 

Tell me once more, papa,” said Cherry, “about 
mamma and Robbie.” 

“ Tliey are well, my darling, and coming to us 
as fast as the cars can bring them.” 

When the happy child was asleep, her father sent 
a despatch to meet the train at Chicago — 

“ Jamie and Cherry are here. They are happy 
and well.''* 


no 


CHERRY, THE SINGER, 


CHAPTER XV. 

HOME AND HAPPINESS. 

» ERRY, Cherry ! ” cried Jamie, bursting 
Qto the sunny room where Cherry sat play- 
Qg with Muff, “ guess who’s come.” 

“ Mamma ! ” cried Clierry, springing to her feet, 
and tumbling Muff on to the floor. 

“ Robbie, you darling!” as the little fellow tod- 
dled into the room; “you little pet,” — and she 
covered him with kisses, — “ do you remember 
sister Cherry?” 

“ Mother I O, mother I ” she cried, without wait- 
ing for his answer, and sprang into her mother’s 
arms, the long mother-want filling her heart. 

“ My darling ! my precious little daughter, we 
will never part again.” 

“ O, never, mamma 1 ” cried Cherry, with a 
shudder. “ O, I did want you so much ! ” 

Her mother folded her close to her heart, and 
kissed her again and again. 


. HOME AND HAPPINESS. HI 

“ You are thinner, my darling,” she murmured, 

“ and paler, but mamma will take care of you 
now.” 

Here Robbie began to whimper, and Cherry 
flew to him. 

“ Kiss me, little brother. Kiss Cherry. Let sister 
take ofl* your things.” 

She gently removed his hat and sack, and then 
took him in her lap. Robbie nestled there confid- 
ingly, while Cherry looked, with a beaming smile, to 
her father and mother. 

“ Isn’t he precious? He’s not a bit afraid of 
me. Do you think he remembers me, mamma?” 

“ Perhaps so,” said her mother, smiling. 

“ How he has grown ! ” continued Cherry. “ See 
him look at Muff! Come, Muff, don’t you know 
the baby ? ” 

Muff capered around them, and kissed the little 
fat hands, to Robbie’s delight. 

Jamie made acquaintance with the little fellow, 
who was not at all bashful, and the three had a 
merry time, or rather the four, for Muff made half 
the fun. 

Jamie’s mother came to the door to see if he Avas 
safe. She could not bear to have him out of her , 
sight. Mrs. Halstead brought her into the room to 
rejoice with her at their new happiness, and soon in 


112 


CHERRT, THE SINGER. 


came Mr. Allen to offer his congratulations, and to 
admire little Robbie. 

Jamie and Cherry are like brother and sister,” 
said Mrs. Allen. “ I don’t know how they will bear 
being separated.” 

“ They shall not be separated,” said Jamie’s 
papa; “they have suffered enough. We have 
sold our home. We will make a new one near 
Clierry’s.” 

“ How nice that will be ! ” cried the delighted 
children. 

“ And Robbie shall be my brother, too,” said 
Jamie. 

“ There is a nice place, close by ours, for sale 
now,” said Mrs. Halstead, smiling. “ Perhaps it 
may please you. The house is large and handsome, 
and stands upon a hill. There is a pond on the 
grounds, and a beautiful grove.” 

“ O, papa ! ” cried Jamie. 

His father smiled. 

“ We will look at it, my boy,” he said. 

“ Where are Neddy and Rollo, papa?” 

“ Tliey are safe, at grandfather’s.” 

“Is Comet at home, papa?” asked Cherry. 
“ Mamma, does Mary know that I’m found ? ” 

“ Yes, to both questions,” replied mamma. 

They were chatting merrily, when a messenger 


HOME AND HAPPINESS. 


113 


interrupted them. Mr. Halstead went to the door, 
and returned looking very grave. 

“ Mrs. Hovey is conscious,” he said. “ The 
doctor says. she cannot live, and she is very anxious 
to see you, children.” 

“ Let us go,” said Cherry, sadly. “ Will you 
take us, papa? She was very kind to me when I 
was sick.” 

“ Yes, my dear ; I will go with you.” 

They hastened to put on their hats, and started 
for the house. 

“ Poor Marm ! ” said Jamie ; “ I hoped that she 
might get well.” 

“ It is much better so, my dear boy,” said Mr. 
Halstead. “ If she got well, she would be sent to 
prison for the rest of her life. She is sorry for her 
wicked course, and feels that God has pardoned 
her. It is better for her to die.” 

On their way to the house they passed the butch- 
er’s shop, and stopped to let him know that Muff 
was safe. 

The kind-hearted man was glad to know about 
him, and very glad for the children when he heard 
their story. He had not heard of Cherry, but knew 
about the kidnapping of Jamie Allen. 

“ Many’s the time I’ve pitied you, my boy, from 
the bottom of my heart,” he said, “ and wondered 
8 


114 


CHERRT, THE SINGER. 


if you would never get home. I little thought you 
would ever walk into my own shop, and speak to 
me. I’m right glad you’ve found your folks.” 

He gave them each a bunch of white grapes, 
which he could ill afford, for his fortune w^as not so 
great as his kind heart ; but Mr. Halstead insisted 
on his taking a bank note for his kindness to the 
children. 

They went on to the landlady’s house. Marm, or 
Mrs. Hovey, as they now knew' her, was lying very 
quietly, waiting for them. 

“ So you’ve found your folks, children,” she said, 
feebly. “ I am very glad. The doctor tells me I 
am dying ; but I can’t die in peace until I hear you 
say that you forgive me.” 

“We do ; we did long ago,” they both answered, 
heartily. 

“ And -we’re very sorry for you,” added Cherry. 

“ You are good children,” said she ; “ I don’t 
deserve your goodness.” 

And she looked gratefully at them. 

Cherry glanced at her father, then leaned timidly 
forward, and kissed the w'oman’s faded cheek. 

Jamie followed her example. 

“ Thank you,” said Mrs. Hovey, softly, her eyes 
filling with tears. “ May the Lord bless you 
both.” 


HOME AND HAPPINESS. 


115 


“Can I do anything for you, Mrs. Hovey?” 
asked Mr. Halstead, greatly touched. 

“ If you would write to my good, old mother,” 
she said, “ and tell her that I lived long enough to 
repent, and to ask God’s forgiveness. I know she 
would be glad to know it. My poor mother! I 
wish I could go home to ask her forgiveness.” 

“ I Avill write and tell her,” said Mr. Halstead, 
kindly. “ Is there nothing else?” 

She handed him the little bag of money which 
she had worn about her neck. 

“ If there’s anything left, after burying me,” she 
said, “ will you send it to my mother?” 

“ I will,” said Mr. Halstead. “ Now let me read 
you a chapter and say a prayer.” 

He drew a Testament from his pocket, and read 
from that beautiful chapter (the fourteenth) of 
John. 

“ ‘ Let not your heart be troubled : ye believe in 
God, believe also in me. 

“ ‘ In my Father’s house are many mansions : if 
it were not so, I would have told you. I go to pre- 
pare a place for you. 

“ ‘ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will 
come again and receive you unto myself ; that Avhere 
I am, ye may be also. 


116 


CHERRY, THE SINGER. 


“ ‘ And whither I go ye know, and the way ye 
know. 

“ ‘ I am the way, the truth, and the life : no 
man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 

“ ‘ If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will 
do it. 

“ ‘ I will not leave you comfortless : I will come 
to you. 

“ ‘ As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved 
you : continue ye in my love.’ ” 

Then, kneeling with the children, he prayed for 
the dying woman. 

After the prayer she lay with her hands folded, 
and her eyes closed, praying for herself. Then, 
looking at the children, she asked them, faintly, to 
sing. 

“ Sing ‘ Jesus says that we must love him.’ My 
mother used to sing it to me.” 

So they softly sang the beautiful little hymn ; 
and while they were singing it, the poor soul, who 
had so gone astray, who had made so much trouble 
and misery, went back to the God who gave it. 

Mr. Halstead did not tell the children that sin 
was dead. They thought her asleep, and he led 
them gently away. 

He told the landlady he would repay her for 
everything, and to give Mrs. Hovey a proper burial. 


HOME AND HAPPINESS. . 


117 


He wrote a comforting letter to the poor, old 
mother, enclosing the money just as it was given 
to him. How glad the faithful heart must have 
been to know that her erring child had died re- 
pentant ! 

In a few days Jamie and Cherry left Milwaukee 
for home. Mr. and Mrs. Allen would stop on the 
way to let the boy’s grandfather see him again. 
Then they would go to Mr. Halstead’s cottage until 
their new home was ready for them. 

How pleasant was that journey eastward ! 

“ Do you remember, Jamie,” Cherry asked, 
‘‘ how I cried nearly all the way to Milwaukee 
when I found where we were going? And, after 
all, ’twas the very best thing we could have done.” 

“Yes,” said he, “and how you fretted till you 
made yourself sick ; but perhaps if you hadn’t been 
sick. Cherry, Marm wouldn’t have grown good. It 
was your praying for her that changed her heart.” 

Passing through Boston, they Avent to see the 
woman with Avhom they had lodged there. She 
was truly glad to see them, and rejoiced in their 
good fortune. 

They parted with Jamie in Boston, his father and 
mother promising to arrive at the cottage on the 
following week. 

Imagine Cherry’s delight when she found herself 


118 


CHERRT, THE SINGER. 


once more at home. Mary half smothered her with 
kisses ; her uncle and aunt were delighted to sec 
her, and tlie neighbors ran in and out — all eager to 
speak with their little favorite. 

As soon as Cherry had time, she flew to the 
garden, and visited all her old nooks and haunts 
— the flower-beds, the cherry tree, the climbing 
roses, the swing, and the arbor. 

She dragged Robbie’s rocking-horse out for him, 
and then flew to visit Comet. He whinnied with 
pleasure, and looked very sleek and handsome. 
Hon, the great watch-dog, came, and rubbed his 
rough nose in her hand. She patted his shaggy 
fur, calling him to go with her to visit the hens and 
pigeons. Muff flew by her side, and Robbie tod- 
dled after her wherever she went. 

“ Lots o’ chickies. See, sister ! ” He panted, 
■vVanting her to admire the last downy brood. 

Cherry knelt down, and clasped him in her arms, 
murmuring, — 

“ O, Robbie, darling, it is so good to be at 
home ! ” 

When the Allens arrived, they were so much 
pleased with the neighboring place for sale that 
they bought it, and lived there. 

So Jamie and Cherry were constant companions. 
They went to school together ; and out of school- 


HOME AND HAPPINESS. 


119 


time they played together. Jamie had Neddy and 
Rollo at the new home, and he and Cherry shared 
together all their books and playthings. 

Once a week a gentleman from Portland rode out 
to give them lessons in music, the little violin and 
the fresh young voices being as sweet and tuneful 
as ever. 

Now we must leave our little wanderers. We 
are glad to leave them safe in their loving homes ; 
and let us remember, if we are ever tried like them 
with adversity, that 

“ Earth has no sorrow that Heaven cannot heal.” 


THE END. 



h*^ „r^ c* ' ■ ' •> ^ r 

.. . ..^ *;/-V '‘kV^? '.' .■■ir*t'’*--^ 

V.*: ', 

. "t, 


•• 




* '•a ■ 

*-j. • 


> J 






“i — i** . ^ - j 







* rW-.»'''r. .%’S'*;, -^’jK 


•'<V^ 


.r'. 




4 . 4 .* ♦ r 






^ i. 


■ - . T ‘'^ 

*•• '-Tv. '-^r-V. 




[293. 


•• * '- j 

•• • ^ « 


t * 


J «fc.-«' .-c-^ 




<• -1 



* . 






i 






r ' 




' ,j 




t 

I 





'• a>- 



• « 

* 


I J 


« 


■( 







« 


• • 



- •* 


•* 




« 







« 


U. 

« I 











r 


• 'v* 






I 


r 


, 





I 







« 

• I 



•■'ll •' • ' 


« 


« 




I 


rJ 




I » 





•♦ . 












• « 






r - V‘ 

A « «• 


« • » <V 


* • 0 

• < 


' '<• 










• a 


» 


# 


# 


-f- 


C 



<. 

V 






> # 


r 

V 








U0 ^ 
>• > 


% 



I « 


* 

. % 







k 


. {• ' 














•** 










I? t 


-P 

4 ii, 

' s il'^* *<t 


' s il'^* '<* 

> ' .1. **^^ ,1* 
fi * ' ’ *4^ * 

<• ^ 'tv 

S. 'T V'i/ . ■ ’\P'V' 

*5?] 

:^v *■ 

! * ■• Sj * 1 




•i, :i 


.\iX ' i’ 

/? V 


, -.^ * . n '••■ A. . 

,1* 

' iV )' ■ 1 ' ' 


V" ■■•-.. - ■ . ■ ; 

i'- J V>v^' 

;v'‘ ^ p‘ 


h 

. iai- ’ - 























